A 39-year-old man is facing five counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer after he allegedly opened fire on deputies who had surrounded his Sarasota, Florida, home early Sunday, October 11. Casey King was shot when a deputy returned fire and is in critical but stable condition at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
TL;DR: Deputies first responded to a reported shooting at 12:19 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of a McDonald’s at Bee Ridge and Cattlemen roads, where no one was injured and the suspect had already left the scene. Deputies later surrounded King’s home at 4818 Hoyer Drive; authorities say King opened fire on the deputies, and a deputy returned fire, striking him.
A Reported Shooting at the McDonald’s
Shortly after midnight, at 12:19 a.m. on October 11, deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of a McDonald’s at the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. No one was injured in that incident, and the suspect had left the area before deputies arrived, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The late-night call set off an investigation that quickly led deputies to a home nearby. What began as a response to a shooting with no victims escalated within hours into a direct confrontation between deputies and an armed suspect.
Gunfire at the Suspect’s Home
Deputies surrounded a home at 4818 Hoyer Drive in connection with the earlier call. According to the sheriff’s office, King opened fire on the deputies as they closed in. A deputy returned fire, striking King and ending the immediate threat.
King was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition. The deputy-involved shooting is standardly subject to review, and the broader investigation into both the McDonald’s incident and the confrontation at the home is continuing.
Five Counts of Attempted Murder
King has been charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, reflecting the deputies he allegedly fired upon. Attempted murder of a law enforcement officer is among the most serious charges under Florida law. King is presumed innocent, and the charges are accusations unless and until proven in court.
The charges reflect the number of deputies King allegedly fired upon when deputies surrounded his home. Each count carries severe potential penalties under Florida law, reflecting how seriously the state treats violence directed at officers.
The Investigation Continues
Detectives are now working to reconstruct the full sequence of events, from the reported shooting in the McDonald’s parking lot to the gunfire at the Hoyer Drive home. Investigators will be examining physical evidence from both scenes, along with any available surveillance footage and witness accounts, to establish exactly what happened in the early hours of October 11.
King remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Once he is medically cleared, he will face the five attempted murder charges in court. The deputy-involved shooting will also be reviewed under standard procedures, as is routine whenever an officer fires a weapon in the line of duty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Casey King?
Casey King is a 39-year-old Sarasota, Florida, man who was shot by a deputy after he allegedly opened fire on deputies outside his home on October 11.
What happened at the McDonald’s parking lot?
At 12:19 a.m. on October 11, deputies responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot of a McDonald’s at Bee Ridge Road and Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. No one was injured, and the suspect had left the scene before deputies arrived.
Where does Casey King live?
At 4818 Hoyer Drive in Sarasota, Florida, where deputies later surrounded the home in connection with the earlier call.
What happened when deputies surrounded the home?
According to the sheriff’s office, King opened fire on the deputies. A deputy returned fire, striking King.
What is Casey King’s condition?
He was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he is in critical but stable condition.
What is Casey King charged with?
He faces five counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer.
Were any deputies injured?
The sheriff’s office account described a deputy returning fire; no deputy injuries were mentioned in the report. The investigation is ongoing.
Where can I read the original report?
The incident was reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
