A Hernando County deputy shot and killed a suspect Monday who authorities said was armed with a knife, acting erratically and had stabbed a dog. 

  • 26-year-old Taylor Hodges was shot by deputies Monday
  • Witnesses say the man was behaving erratically
  • He broke into a woman's home, stabbed one dog and beat another

The incident occurred late Monday morning at Cedar Land and Duffield Road in Brooksville.

Deputies say Taylor Hodges, 26, was behaving extremely odd. The use of drugs or alcohol haven't been confirmed.

"The person was obviously in crisis, obviously delusional," said Sheriff Al Neinhuis, "and obviously very dangerous."

According to authorities, Hodges busted through the back door of Terry Green's home. Green told deputies the man was completely incoherent as he smashed into walls while she and her 11-year-old granddaughter watched, terrified.

"My nerves," said Green hours after the attack. "I'm not in my right mind right now."

Green said she began yelling at Hodges to get out, but he didn't respond until her two dogs intervened. She said he stabbed one, a basset hound, in the head. When her 2-year-old pitbull attacked him, Hodges reportedly beat the animal with an iron crowbar.

Before deputies arrived, Hodges had made his way to another neighbor's yard.

James Ryals said the 26-year-old man was acting crazy, and exhibited super human strength.

"We tried to give him something to drink," said Ryals, "and ask him if we could help him. He just was running crazy. Jumping fences -- 8 foot privacy fences -- like it was nothing."

Ryals said he tried to calm Hodges down, but after Deputy Earnest Johnson, 46, and Deputy James Desmond, 25, arrived on scene there was no reasoning with him.

"We tried to tell him to put the knife down," said Ryals. "The officer had no other choice but to shoot him."

The Sheriff's Office says one of the deputies involved was treated for slashes to his hands from Hodges' knife. He's expected to fully recover.

Hodges' arrest records spans across the entire Bay area, and includes previous charges of arson, grand theft and felon in possession of a firearm.