The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a shooting that left a man dead and a Citrus County deputy injured. 

  • Vet killed in deputy-involved shooting
  • Wife said Ryan Batchelder threatened to harm her
  • Wife said Batchelder suffered from PTSD

The shooting occurred Saturday night in the shopping plaza at the intersection of US 41 and State Road 200.

Deputies say it's one of the busier spots in Hernando, and it started when a man, identified as Ryan Batchelder, 28, threatened one of the employees of Xstream Games 3. 

The caller described the man's car as a blue Kia Sedona and deputies spotted the car not far from the game store and started to follow it. 

Batchelder led deputies on a high speed chase, officials said, but backed off when it wasn't safe. 

That's when the suspect turned around and headed back to the same game store, speeding into the parking lot. 

Deputies said Batchelder pointed a gun at them and slammed into a parked patrol car, causing the patrol car to crash into three more vehicles. 

Officials said when Batchelder wouldn't stop, they shot at him and he died at the scene. 

His wife Samantha Batchelder, who is employed at the game store, said the threat was initially made towards her. She says he has suffered from PTSD and wished he had found help sooner. 

“I wish that he would have gotten the help that he needed, before now, and that maybe if he didn’t this wouldn’t have happened," she said. 

Batchelder leaves behind four young children. 

One officer was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

The deputies involved are on routine administrative leave.