A Zephyrhills man was shot and killed after he was accused of attacking a Pasco County Sheriff's deputy on Thursday night, according to officials.
- Stephen Steele was shot, killed after attacking deputy with knife, officials say
- Deputies say Steele has had a violent history
- RELATED: Deputies: 1 injured in Zephyrhills deputy-involved shooting
The sheriff's office received a call at 7:47 p.m. from a woman who said her son, 56-year-old Stephen Steele, was making threats, including attacking law enforcement officers if they came, stated Melanie Snow, a public information officer with the sheriff's office.
Once deputies arrived at Steele's RV camper, located at 38339 Higginson Rd., he indicated that he would slit his throat, stated Snow.
However, he opened the door of his camper to deputies, but he went back into the camper before deputies could enter and as they approached the entryway, Steele "lunged" at the deputies as he was brandishing a knife, Snow explained.
One of the deputies fired his gun at Steele, who later died from his wounds at a local hospital, according to Snow in a press release. Steele would have been 57 years old on Friday, July 21.
Steele had a violent criminal history and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office had been called out to his camper for grand theft and threats without violence in the past, Snow explained.
Snow stated the investigation is ongoing.