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A Tennessee man who pointed a gun at two Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies outside a Destin motel last night is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds after deputies fired their weapons in response.
The OCSO had received information from the Nashville Police Department Thursday that 30 year old Randy Carl Patton of Antioch Tennessee had texted a photograph of himself to his wife showing a handgun and making statements he was going to commit suicide. Patton was believed to be in the Destin area. Two deputies located Patton’s car in the parking lot of the Days Inn at 1029 Highway 98 last night. While approaching the motel to check on Patton’s status around 7 p.m., Patton came out of a room. He initially complied with commands, but then produced a gun and raised it towards the deputies. Both officers defended themselves and fired on Patton, who was struck multiple times. The incident was captured on the deputies’ body worn cameras. Medical staff say Patton told them he was trying to get deputies to kill him. Patton faces charges of resisting an officer with violence and assault on a law enforcement officer. He is currently at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
A 60-year old bystander that happened to walk out of her room at the time of the shooting was struck in the leg. She was treated for her injury at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
As part of the standard procedure for use of force investigations, the deputies will be temporarily relieved of duties, with pay, pending the results of an investigation by the OCSO Office of Professional Standards.
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