Sumter County deputies shot and killed a Coleman man Saturday night after he pointed a shotgun at a deputy following a knife attack on two family members.
Deputies were called to a residence on Warm Springs Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. and when they arrived, they found 46-year-old Brian H. Benfield armed with a shotgun and making threats to kill. Prior to their arrival, he already had injured two others with a knife and as deputies approached the house, one of the victims fled outside with Benfield close behind, a sheriff’s office report states.
Benfield refused to drop the shotgun, instead raising it and pointing it at one of the deputies. In response, two deputies shot Benfield to stop the attack, the report says.
Benfield was transported to Leesburg Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. No deputies were injured during the incident. FDLE is investigating the officer-involved shooting and as is standard procedure, the two deputies were placed on administrative leave.
Benfield was released from the Florida Department of Corrections on Monday, July 8 after serving the majority of a 25-year sentence for his involvement in a Lake County homicide and robbery. He had been convicted of second-degree murder and robbery with a gun or deadly weapon and started his prison sentence in November 1998.
Benfield also had been sentenced to two years in prison in May 1991 after being convicted of robbery. And he was sentenced to 18 months in prison that same year for burglary.