Domestic Dispute Ends in Multiple Deaths

Walter A. Tyson

October 2, 2015

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls at approximately 6:10 pm Thursday evening. Callers were reporting hearing shots fired across the street from Inglis Town Hall on Hwy 40 West. Callers also reported there may be injuries related to these shots.

LCSO Telecommunicators immediately dispatched law enforcement and rescue units to the described location. A Levy County Department of Public Safety EMS unit happened to be in very close proximity to this location and immediately responded. The EMS and Inglis Fire Department personnel arrived prior to law enforcement and were not aware the incident location was not safe. EMS, putting themselves in harms way, immediately identified two male victims in the front yard and exited their emergency response vehicle to render aid. EMS quickly recognized the extreme volatile nature of the situation, continued their mission by putting their own lives in peril and heroically rescued Otis Ray Bean Jr. (11-17-61). Mr. Bean was successfully transferred and transported by air ambulance to an area hospital where he remains in critical condition.

A large law enforcement response occurred immediately thereafter. The US Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force was operating in the Inglis area on an unrelated investigation. These team members comprised of US Marshal’s, LCSO Deputies, FDLE Agents, Chiefland Police Officers, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies and Gainesville Police Officers surrounded the home. Eye witness testimony was quickly given to these officers confirming the shooter had entered the home. Officers acted quickly and mounted a rescue operation to aid the other male victim found in the yard. Walter Scott “Buzz” Terhune (6-4-47), a local Inglis resident, was removed from the yard, but had unfortunately succumbed to gunshot related injuries.

A secure perimeter had been established by other officers and orders for surrender were immediately given to all occupants of the home. Officers reported seeing a man on the second story of this single family home walk to the window. This person later identified as Walter A. Tyson (1-6-58) disappeared from their sight. Officers heard a single gunshot, followed by a loud thud from inside the home. Task Force officers deployed a robot into the interior of the home and verified one male subject on the upper level of the home who appeared to be dead.

Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum requested mutual aid assistance from Citrus County Sheriff Dawsy who sent several members of his SWAT team to assist with this situation. Upon their arrival SWAT members deployed “distraction devices” into the home and made entry. They discovered the remains of a white female in the kitchen area of the home, who was later identified as Patricia Tyson (8-9-61). It was confirmed that Walter Tyson, now apparent suspect, was in fact deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators discovered “Buzz” Terhune, reported by friends as a retired US Vietnam veteran and good Samaritan, upon hearing the gunshots and recognizing local children in the area were in danger went to confront Mr. Tyson. Investigators believe Mr. Terhune was unaware he was walking into this deadly situation as he was going to confront a person he believed was just recklessly discharging a weapon.

Sheriff McCallum and his members at LCSO want to express their condolences to the families and our community who have been affected by this violent act. Sheriff McCallum wants to convey his assurance to the Inglis community that we are committed to ensure their safety. He also wishes to express his deepest gratitude to the members of the Marshal’s Task Force, Sheriff Dawsy for his immediate response for assistance with both his SWAT team members and forensics unit, the Inglis Fire Department, the Levy County Department of Public Safety and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Without their cooperative efforts this tragic event would have taxed his agencies resources and potentially lengthened this investigation. Their assistance aided in the quickest possible resolution for the families and the community.

LCSO continues to actively work this investigation and requests the community’s assistance. If anyone has information to aid the investigation we are asking them to contact LCSO at 352-486-5111 and ask for an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Unit.

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

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