Slain deputy was trying to earn money for family trip

A longtime veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has died at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center following an early morning shooting in Shalimar. Officials say Smith was supposed to surrender his firearms following a domestic violence injunction, but Smith instead shot Myers and fled to a hotel where he had been staying.

At one point, he broke into a camper, where a woman was sleeping and demanded she give him a ride, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said deputies responded to a call Monday about suspected drug activity at an Auburndale home. The sheriff’s Special Response Team arrived and after more than 100 minutes of negotiations, they fired tear gas into the room, authorities said. He was supposed to be turning over his guns to Myers, 64, when he pulled out a concealed weapon and shot the deputy multiple times, authorities said. He loved photography and he had an ability to make those around him smile, especially his young granddaughter who he adored and took to Disney World as often as he could.

Smith, a postal worker, fled in his vehicle, heading to a Comfort Suites about 10 miles away in Niceville, where he had previously booked a room.

Ashley said there was no indication there would be violence when deputies initially met Smith at an attorney’s office.

Myers retired from full-time duty with the agency in November 2013, after almost 25 years of service, but was re-hired on a part-time basis in January of this year to assist with Civil Process. The sheriff said Dixon had a record of domestic battery, but offered no details.

The Northwest Florida Daily News (http://bit.ly/1Yzv87R ) reports that the shooting took place outside the Cotton and Gates law firm in Shalimar, east of Pensacola. “People choose for us to shoot them”, Judd said, adding that Fuller had set up “a ideal storm”. He was committed to this thing we call law enforcement. “I just couldn’t believe any of it”.

He told a news conference that Fuller was seen trying to open doors of cars and homes and was heard by one witness yelling, “I have a gun”.

“When they brought the guy out, he was on a gurney with his face covered”, said Bump, who was working in the area as part of a construction crew.