An early-morning traffic stop Thursday in Citrus County ended with a deputy-involved shooting and a suspect in custody.

  • Incident happened Thursday morning in Homosassa
  • William Bryant, 21, taken into custody
  • Sheriff's Office says Bryant hit deputy's vehicle

The incident happened just after 3 a.m. when a Sheriff's Office deputy attempted a traffic stop in the area of Periwinkle Lane in Homosassa.

Authorities said William Bryant, 21, struck the deputy's vehicle with his vehicle.

"At some point during the incident, it appears that Bryant tried to strike the deputy with his car, at which point the deputy fired at Bryant," the Sheriff's Office posted on its Facebook page.

The pursuit ended when the suspect crashed his vehicle near a residence off Stone Gate. He was taken to Bayonet Point where he is being treated for his injuries, authorities said.

"This morning it was intensely foggy. It was one of the foggiest mornings we've had since the first of the year," Sheriff Prendergast said. "This was a very dangerous lengthy pursuit throughout the Homosassa neighborhoods out here. We're very thankful that out deputy is ok and that no other citizens were harmed during this incident."

But for the people in the neighborhood where the shooting happened and those who live close by, the incident has hit a bit too close to home.

Karen Tucker was in shock when she came across the scene while going to check on an elderly friend she helped care for.

"To think that something could have happened to her being so close to her house it's very unnerving," she said.

Luckily, no people who live in the neighborhood were hurt, but some a mailbox and a few lawns in the area did take a beating.

"When it's close to home that's the worst possible feeling in the world," Tucker said.

Charges against Bryant haven't been announced.

The deputy has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.