MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. —The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said two deputies were forced to fire after a suspect refused to follow commands.
Deputies responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 1800th block of 47th Terrace East in Bradenton.
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Deputies arrived on scene around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Deputies saw a male in a wooded area and they shouted for him to show his hands.
"They continued to tell him to remove his hands from his pockets and when he does he begins to fire at them. He has a gun in his hands," said Sheriff Rick Wells.
Sheriff Rick Wells said the suspect is a convicted felon wanted on federal indictments by the FBI and FDLE. He has been identified as Ceceil D. Truelove, 43.
The federal indictments include possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense and distribution of a quantity of meth.
Truelove opened fire at two deputies on scene. The two deputies then returned fire, hitting the suspect.
"One of my deputies felt the round go past her. They return fire and strike him," said Sheriff Wells.
Truelove was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. He is in serious condition and had surgery.
The deputies were not hurt.
"I feel blessed that my deputies are able to come home tonight. This was a very close range, dangerous encounter with a man with a gun, a man who should not have a gun," said Sheriff Wells.
Both deputies are now on paid administrative leave which is standard protocol.
The shooting remains under investigation as of Thursday night.
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