Deputies shot and killed a Palm Harbor man Thursday (Dec. 22) after he pointed a crossbow at two other deputies, according to the Pinellas County sheriff.

PALM HARBOR – Pinellas sheriff’s detectives said they are investigating a deputy-involved shooting that left a Palm Harbor man dead Thursday (Dec. 22) night.

Stanley D. Eversole, 55, of 252 Whisper Lake Road in Palm Harbor, was taken to Bayfront Health where he was pronounced dead.

Cpl. Casey Hunter, 35, who has been with the sheriff’s office since March 2003, and Deputy Brian Sudbrink, 47, who has been with the department since January 2004, were uninjured. Both were placed on routine, paid administrative leave.

The incident happened about 7 p.m. at Mr.Eversole’s residence. Investigators say deputies were called to the residence abuot 6:50 p.m. by a neighbor, Lisa Sampietro, who told them that Mr. Eversole and his girlfriend, Lora Richter, 53, had been arguing earlier in the week. During that argument, Mr.Eversole became upset and threatened Richter with a crossbow. Mr. Eversole warned Richter that if she called the police he was going to kill the cops that showed up. Richter never reported the incident to law enforcement.

On Thursday, Richter was texting a friend who became concerned for Richter’s safety and sent her daughter, Sampietro, over to Richter’s residence to check on her. Deputies said that, when Sampietro drove by Richter’s residence, she saw Mr. Eversole standing in the front yard holding what she believed was a rifle or shotgun. Sampietro called the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and told deputies that Eversole was upset and armed with a rifle or shotgun.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they said they talked with Richter who had just returned home. While speaking with Richter outside the residence, one deputy went to the backyard and peered through a window at the home. Deputies said they saw Mr. Eversole inside the residence with a crossbow in his hand. The crossbow was cocked with an arrow in it.

Detectives said that two deputies were standing on the exterior northeast corner of the residence assessing the situation when Mr. Eversole came outside armed with the loaded crossbow.

Hunter and Sudbrink were across the street, covering the two deputies nearest the home, when Mr. Eversole leveled the crossbow and pointed the weapon at the two deputies in a threatening manner. Fearing that the deputies’ lives were in danger, Hunter and Sudbrink both fired their semi-automatic rifles multiple times, striking Mr. Eversole three to four times, investigators said.

For information about the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, go to pcsoweb.com.

Photo of crossbow courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff.

Pinellas Sheriff | Deputy-Involved Shooting | Crossbow | Crime | Palm Harbor | TB Reporter

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