The Gainesville Police Department is looking for witnesses to a fatal shooting in which an Alachua County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed an 18-year-old man after a struggle.
Nicholous Vertex Weeks, 18, was shot several times on Friday by Lt. Mike Hanson after physical force and the use of a Taser gun did not stop Weeks from attacking the deputy, said Gainesville Police Department spokesman Keith Kameg.
"There were at least 25 witnesses at the scene," Kameg said. "But we are continuing to look for other witnesses who know anything."
It is still unclear how Weeks got to the intersection and why he was enraged, Kameg said.
The State Attorney's Office and ASO will assist GPD in the investigation of the incident. Because the incident happened inside the city limits, GPD will lead the investigation, according to Kameg.
Although GPD received the results of Weeks' preliminary autopsy, the final autopsy results and a toxicology report, which could reveal drug use, are still being performed, Kameg said.
The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. on Friday. GPD received calls regarding a man and woman fighting in a car at the intersection of Northwest 34th Street and 39th Avenue.
According to a witness account on the SKY97.3 Web site, Weeks stopped a random car and tried to pull-out the driver.
Before GPD officers arrived at the scene, Hanson, who was on duty, pulled-up and tried to stop the fight, Kameg said.
Hanson shot Weeks with a Taser gun when Weeks attacked him.
After being Tasered, Weeks attempted to grab the deputy's gun. Hanson then shot Weeks several times, killing him on the scene, Kameg said.
Kameg said the only reason someone would go after an officer's gun is to hurt or kill.
"Ninty-nine times out of 100, if you go for a deputy's gun, you are creating a life and death situation," he said. "Officers will take whatever actions are necessary, including deadly force, because we cannot let our guns be taken."
Hanson has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an investigation of the incident takes place.
