He was shot and killed by Hernando County Deputies as they tried serving an arrest warrant for sexual battery on a child.
- Family of Anthony Wallace asking questions about his warrant and fatal shooting
- Wallace was shot and killed by deputies in Hernando Co on Sept. 27
- PREVIOUS STORY: Sex battery suspect shot and killed by Hernando deputies
It happened outside the Trillium neighborhood near Masaryktown on September 27.
Now the family of 42-year-old Anthony Wallace is speaking out, questioning the circumstances that led to the warrant and the shooting.
"I think this was just a misunderstanding that went to fast. It just went awry," said family spokesperson Wendy, asking us to only use her first name.
Wendy sat down with Spectrum Bay News 9 last week, and during an interview questioned the allegations of sex abuse against a child, saying the victim's story has changed since it was first reported.
"In knowing him, and knowing the kind of father he was, and knowing he was loving and respectful and quite spoken, I can't imagine him doing this with a child."
Family is also questioning why deputies opened fire on Wallace as they attempted to serve the arrest warrant.
The Sheriff's Office posted a Facebook video from the scene on September 27. In it, Hernando Sheriff Al Nienhuis said Wallace fired at deputies one time after a brief pursuit as they tried serving the arrest warrant.
Wendy says Wallace always carried an AR15 in the back of his truck but "this gun is too long to do anything else with. There is no windows busted out. There's just nothing to indicate that he grabbed this gun and shot first."
In this image of Wallace's vehicle, dark tinted windows can be seen. Family questions how deputies could have seen his weapon inside. (Wallace family image)
Wallace had a permt to carry a concealed weapon.
In pictures from the scene, Wallace's pickup truck had dark tint on the windows. Family claims it would have been difficult for deputies to see if Wallace reached for a gun.
Finally, the family is questioning how quickly the warrant was signed after the sex abuse allegations were reported.
The Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest warrant was signed the same day the shooting happened.
Family says it was also the same day the child abuse sex allegations were reported.
"It happened just that fast. How do you get you know your warrant signed, and CPS (Child Protective Services) and the school and get your deputies in line and get this set up. They are pinging his phone so they know where he is at," Wendy said.
We did ask the Sheriff's office about the allegations of child sex abuse against Tony Wallace, the events that led to the warrant being signed and the shooting.
The Sheriff's Office would not comment, saying the investigation is still ongoing.