Deputies fatally shoot man armed with rifle near busy Brandon intersection

­Hillsborough deputies on Wednesday fatally shot a man armed with a rifle near a busy Brandon intersection, authorities said.

The sheriff’s office received calls around 7:25 a.m. reporting a man carrying an “assault rifle” near the intersection of Windingwood Avenue and Providence Road, Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said during a news conference.

The man, 34-year-old Vincent Tyler Morin, was wearing “army fatigues, a (tactical) vest with body armor” and some sort of communication headset, Maurer said. Morin was walking north on Providence Road toward Causeway Boulevard, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies responded and told Morin to drop the rifle, Maurer said.

“Multiple commands were given to the suspect, ‘Drop the weapon,’ ‘Drop the gun,’” Maurer said. “He did not comply.”

Three deputies fired on Morin about 7:38 a.m., mortally wounding him, Maurer said.

The man’s rifle was loaded and he had two magazines in his body armor, according to Maurer.

“Imagine yourselves driving your children to school and seeing that man there,” Maurer said. “Also, look, just to my left, busy business complexes. I’ve got Lowe’s right here. I’ve got multiple shopping centers over this way. This was a dangerous, dangerous situation.”

The sheriff’s office later Wednesday released video from at least one deputy’s body camera and aerial footage from the agency’s helicopter. The aerial footage shows Morin was holding the rifle to his chest when deputies opened fire on him.

The video shows deputies giving first aid to Morin, who died at a hospital, according to the sheriff’s office.

The three deputies who opened fire were Lt. William Gergel, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 35 years; Deputy Matthew Fluck, who joined the sheriff’s office 13 months ago; and Deputy Courtney Baldwin, who joined the agency six months ago.

None of the three has prior use-of-force incidents, according to the sheriff’s office. They have been placed on routine paid administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates as part of an ongoing agreement with the sheriff’s office.

In a statement, Sheriff Chad Chronister said Morin “posed a real and immediate threat.”

“This was an extremely dangerous situation for our community,” Chronister said. “An individual armed with an assault rifle and dressed in tactical gear posed a real and immediate threat. Our deputies acted quickly and decisively to protect lives and prevent further danger. Their actions reflect the bravery and commitment we ask of them every day.”

Records show Morin has been arrested twice in Florida.

In 2022, he was arrested on a DUI charge in Brevard County. He pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving and a judge withheld adjudication.

On Feb. 8, Morin was arrested on charges of trespassing and marijuana possession at the Hampton Inn, 10240 Causeway Blvd., after he refused requests to leave the hotel, according to an arrest affidavit. The hotel is about two miles west of where Morin was fatally shot.

Booking records list a Spring Hill address for Morin and list him as “disabled.”

Court records show Hillsborough prosecutors filed the trespassing charge and dropped the marijuana charge. A judge on March 24 issued a warrant for Morin’s arrest after he failed to appear for a court hearing that day.