CRYSTAL LAKE, Fla. -- A missing mother and her 14-year-old son have been found safe following a three-and-a-half hour standoff that ended with her husband fatally shooting himself after firing at two deputies just after 7 p.m. Thursday, authorities say.
After getting a concerned call from the woman's mom, Polk County deputies were sent to do a welfare check at their home near Skyview Drive and Goodyear Avenue, which is close to Lakeland. Speaking through the door, deputies asked the man if everything was all right, to which he responded with something about not wanting to go to jail again, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Law enforcement told him that won't be the case; they just want to know what was happening.
"About that time, [the suspect] starts shooting at deputies," said Judd, adding the man fired off at least seven shots from a shotgun. "They could actually hear the shots hitting other mobile homes, privacy fencing, trees, shrubs, as they were taking cover."
They then heard a muffled shot and a thump on the floor.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office SWAT unit then showed up.
Deputies went inside, where they found the man dead from a gunshot wound.
Law enforcement has identified him as 43-year-old Michael Manning.
He has no prior criminal history.
His mother-in-law described him as anti-government, and his wife said he was "not fond" of law enforcement, according to the sheriff's office.
Approximately 1700 rounds of ammo and two shotguns were located inside the home. Seven spent shell casings were found.
No deputies were hurt in the shooting.
"The shots went on either side of one of the deputies, narrowly missing both deputies," Judd said. "It was only by the Grace of God that these deputies were not hurt."
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
