PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) deputies shot a 19-year-old man who they said charged at them with a machete Tuesday evening.
Deputies were called out for a domestic disturbance in the 7400 block of 43rd Terrace North near Riviera Beach.
While deputies were trying to locate the caller, victim and suspect, they said the situation escalated when a young man walked out and retrieved a "foot and a half long machete."
"It was strategically placed in the hedges where he knew where to go retrieve it," said Chief Deputy Robert Allen. "He immediately raised it above his head and began approaching the deputies in a fairly aggressive manner."
Chief Deputy Allen said deputies tried repeatedly to get the man to put the machete down, but they said he would not comply.
"[Deputies] finally had no other recourse but to stop his aggressive actions by firing on him," Allen said. "That stopped his actions."
Investigators said the man, who they identified as Andre Mayard, 19, was taken to a local hospital for surgery. Mayard remained in critical condition on Wednesday.
"Thank God, none of our deputies were injured," Allen said.
They said they believe only one deputy fired their service weapon, but further investigation is needed to be sure. They said the deputy or deputies found to have fired their weapons will be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, as per agency protocol.
PBSO also say the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office and PBSO's Violent Crimes Division are actively investigating the shooting.
