There are many unstable people in the world, but perhaps even more dangerous are those who are both unstable and armed. That reality became very clear during a recent incident in Bay County, Florida, where a deputy found himself face to face with a man carrying multiple firearms. The deputy had responded after multiple 9-1-1 calls came in about a man wandering along the roadside with a weapon and acting erratically. The man was later identified as 45-year-old Justin Chandler Smith. Witnesses reported that he was carrying both a handgun and a magazine-fed shotgun, which some even mistook for an assault rifle.
To make the situation even more concerning, this was not the first time authorities had encountered Smith. According to reports, deputies were already familiar with him from the previous evening, when he was involved in a harassment and trespassing complaint. At that time, officers noted that he had shown signs of being agitated and aggressive.
A video of the confrontation, shared on YouTube, gives a close look at how events unfolded on the side of the road. The deputy can be heard ordering Smith to put his guns down, but Smith ignored the commands. He seemed to feel threatened by the deputy’s presence and the fact that the officer also carried a weapon. Still, the deputy attempted to move closer and de-escalate, trying to persuade Smith to surrender his firearms. Unfortunately, Smith perceived this as provocation. He suddenly pulled out his handgun and pointed it directly at the deputy, which triggered an exchange of gunfire.
Smith was struck and fell to the ground, but even then he continued to fire from where he lay. The deputy returned fire until Smith was finally subdued. According to the investigation, Smith managed to discharge six rounds from his pistol, while the deputy fired seven shots in response. Several of Smith’s bullets struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle, leaving visible damage.
After the shooting stopped, the Florida deputy immediately shifted to providing medical aid. He began CPR and continued until additional deputies and paramedics arrived to assist. Despite these efforts, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Online reactions to the video of the shootout were swift and largely unsympathetic toward Smith. Many viewers felt his actions left the Florida law enforcement with no other choice. “Wrong decision, Mr. Smith,” one user wrote bluntly. Others speculated on what might have caused his erratic behavior, with some suggesting drugs and others pointing to possible mental illness.
Several commenters also praised the deputy for handling the dangerous encounter with remarkable composure. One wrote, “I appreciate the cop’s attempt to reason and that he didn’t immediately go for his gun until the suspect reached for his. Even after he had a gun in his hand, the officer still showed restraint until the suspect pushed things too far. Nothing else that officer could have done.”
