State attorney clears deputy in Homosassa, FL, Jan 22 shooting death of knife-wielding assailant

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputy who was the subject of an investigation into the Jan. 22, 2021 shooting death of 57 year-old Steven M. Verdone, of Homosassa, Florida, has been cleared of wrongdoing by the office of State Attorney Bill Gladson of Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit. The incident occurred on W. Cardinal St. in Homosassa, near the Marathon gas station, located at 6241 W. Cardinal St., when the deputy shot Mr. Verdone after he refused to drop the knife he was holding and continued to threaten him with it.

A review of the case, dated May 18, 2021, by Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie to State Attorney Gladson, determined that no further action should be taken against the deputy who fired the shots, because his actions were reasonable and authorized by sections 776.05 and 776.012 of the Florida Statues, and any review of the deputy's compliance with the CCSO's policies and good police procedures would be left to Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast.

In a letter to Sheriff Prendergast and FDLE Special Agent Ramone Cosme, dated May 25, State Attorney Gladson stated that he agreed with the findings in the case and stated that his office will take no further action.

According to the state attorney's office, the decision took into account the Florida Statutes, statements of witnesses, 911 calls, various items of evidence, video surveillance of the Marathon gas station and videos from the cellphones of witnesses, along with the findings of the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

The incident was described as having occurred around 10:00 am on Friday, January 22, 2021, when the CCSO received multiple complaints from motorists of a person, later identified as Mr. Verdone, walking in front of vehicles on W. Cardinal St., in the area of S. Gross Ave. near the Marathon gas station, yelling at the motorists to hit him. A short time later, an employee at the Marathon gas station contacted the CCSO, with information that a man, later identified as Mr. Verdone, was outside the store, armed with a knife, threatening to "f---ing kill" three people at the store, stating, "Who wants to die today?"

The deputy who shot Mr. Verdone was the first deputy who arrived in response to compalints made against Mr. Versone. According to the state attorney's office, the deputy ordered Verdone to drop the knife, numerous times, while backing away from Verdone, but Verdone continued to weild the knife, threatening to kill the deputy, advancing toward him. The deputy continued to back away from Verdone, for 106 feet, until he and Verdone reached the yard of a residence located at 6215 W. Cardinal St., just east of the intersection with S. Gross Ave. When Verdone raised his knife while making an agressive movement toward the deputy, the deputy fired his weapon (a Glock 22 0.40-caliber pistol) three times, striking Verdone twice in his chest and once in his abdomen.

Mr. Verdone fell to the ground, unconscious and unresponsive. Deputies on scene rendered aid, and paramedica arrived on scene to provide medical care, but Verdone died on the scene of the incident as a result of his injuries.

The name of the deputy involved in the incident was not released due to Marsy's Law, Florida's victim protection law.