Hernando County deputies fatally shot a 69-year-old man Thursday afternoon. 

Authorities are investigating the deadly shooting that happened in Weeki Wachee.

  • Incident happened at home in Enclave subdivision
  • Person shot, died at local trauma center
  • Deputy and sergeant placed on administrative leave

It occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday on Ridge Top Loop in the Enclave subdivision.

Hernando County deputies say Joseph Schlosser’s home health care aid called 911 to report he was suicidal.

A deputy and sergeant responded to the scene.

"They tried to speak with him to no avail. And then they attempted less lethal and that also did not work," said Denise Moloney with Hernando County Sheriff’s office.

Shots were fired, and Schlosser was taken to a local trauma center and pronounced dead.

Neighbors and friends say Schlosser was sharp mentally, but struggled physically.

"I wasn’t surprised. He lived a life of pain," said friend Patricia Sala.

Sala said Schlosser served his country as a Vietnam War veteran and worked for years as a police officer.

Schlosser’s friends say he was married but home alone at the time.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was notified and is investigating.

The deputy and sergeant have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol.