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| Luis Duran (photo from 2013) |
June 18, 2018
On June 16, 2018 shortly after midnight, Levy County
Deputies responded to 1951 SE 119 Avenue in Morriston, Florida to a domestic
dispute. The caller told 911 dispatchers her husband pointed a gun at her
during an argument.
Deputies arrived and spoke to the wife in the front yard of
the home. She explained that her husband, Luis Duran (10-9-61), had been
drinking at a local bar and when they returned home they began arguing. Luis Duran
brandished a gun, pointed it at her and threatened to shoot her and then himself.
She was able to escape from the home and call law enforcement.
Deputies attempted to negotiate with Duran, who had
barricaded himself inside. He would not respond to PA announcements, phone
calls or any request to surrender. The Tactical Response Unit (TRU) responded
to the home and after hours of attempts to contact Duran decided to enter. TRU
members were uncertain if Duran had already injured himself. Deputies on the scene
were aware Duran had been arrested in 2013 for a very similar act during which
he fired a gun.
TRU members located Duran lying on his bed in the master
bedroom. He was seen by law enforcement pointing a handgun at his own head. TRU
members began speaking to him and ordering him to throw the gun away and
surrender. Duran, after only 45 seconds of deputies talking to him, shot
himself. Duran was immediately treated on scene by EMS who had staged nearby.
He did not survive his injuries.
Sheriff McCallum said in today’s world the calls our
deputies are responding to and the level of violence they have to confront is
increasing at an alarming rate. This is extremely worrisome. This situation should have had a different
ending. Mr. Duran could have surrendered and allowed us to help him. Our
thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Duran and their family in their time of
need. The LCSO Victim Services Unit is working with the Duran family to ensure their
needs are met.