Pasco Deputies Placed on Paid Leave Following Shooting Involvement Now Under Investigation

Screenshot of body-worn camera footage released of deputy involved shooting in Pasco County on December 13, 2024. Photo by Pasco Sheriff's Office | Facebook

Three deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) have been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation after their involvement in a shooting on Friday, December 13, 2024, that has left a New Port Richey man struggling with his mental health in critical condition, a press release states.
​
According to the December 13 press conference led by PSCO Sheriff, Chris Nocco, at about 8:14 am last Friday, 38-year-old Scott Youmans found his way to a gun store located on Little Road, where he attempted to bash the business' windows in with a metal street sign. A staff member employed at the next-door gas station witnessed the incident, asking Youmans what he was doing before calling the police; he admitted to the employee that he was executing a break-in attempt.

After his attempts proved unsuccessful, a frustrated Youmans began to walk away from the business; deputies on the lookout spotted him about 200 yards away from the gun store on the southbound side of Little Road. A PCSO Detective was the first to notice him, getting out of their vehicle to see Youmans immediately pull a knife from his pocket.

The Detective called out the knife over his radio, and backup deputies began to flock to the scene to assist in verbal de-escalation efforts. With Youmans at gunpoint, Deputies pleaded with him to drop his weapon, offering to get him help. Sheriff Nocco says unreleased portions of body-cam footage capture Youmans relenting to deputies that they wouldn't understand what he was going through.

In the body-worn camera footage that was released by PCSO, a small portion of the de-esculation that led up to an eventual shooting can be seen. Two responding deputies are heard expressing compassion to Youmans, offering to connect him with community resources, and empathizing with his struggles.

"No one wants to hurt you." said one deputy out of field of view. "It's okay man, we've all been there brother. I'm right there right now, every day is tough." said the camera-wearing deputy while aiming down his ironsights.

No response can be heard from Youmans on the footage; however, he is seen quickly shifting his weight to look directly at the camera-wearing deputy for a moment, before beginning to lunge and sprint in his direction with the knife in hand.

Three responding deputies reacted swiftly, firing off several shots with both lethal and less-lethal rounds that hit Youmans in the head, chest, midsection, and leg; other deputies on scene opted to use their tazers. After Youmans hit the ground, his head smashing into the pavement, deputies cuffed him before beginning immediate rendering of life-saving aid tactics by sealing off wounds.

According to Sheriff Nocco, as Youmans lied bleeding on the pavement, he turned up to deputies saying 'Thank you.' Nocco further iterates that Youmans has an extensive history of struggling with his mental health, having been Baker Acted multiple times for expressing the desire to harm himself or others, yet has no criminal background prior to this incident. The 38-year-old now faces two charges, one for attempted burglary and another for aggravated assault on an officer.

Nocco stated that he believes the incident implies the suspect was attempting to commit suicide by cop, something he says he has never seen or experienced before himself. PCSO state this to be an isolated incident, with no remaining threat to the community.

Youmans was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition with injuries of an unknown scope shortly there-after, where he was then rushed into surgery; it is currently unknown whether or not the suspect has survived the surgery and his injuries.

As of publication, Sheriff Nocco and PCSO have not released the identities of the three deputies involved in the shooting, but did reveal that they have been placed on paid adminitrative leave, as per their standard protocol, while special agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) begin investigations into the incident. At this time, it has not been made clear if any of the officers involved in the shooting have a prior history of use of lethal force in the field.

A Special Agent in Charge of the investigation has asked that any witnesses who would like to come forward and provide a statement to please call 1-800-226-1140, where they will then schedule a time to meet for interview.

As of publication, the investigation remains ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

​Article by Rachael Volpe