ORANGE COUNTY, FL — On June 7, Orange County deputies fatally shot Terry Washington Jr., 30, while responding to a mental health call at his family’s home.
The incident occurred just hours after a separate deputy-involved shooting earlier that day.
According to body-worn camera footage released by the sheriff’s office, Washington’s mother informed deputies that her son, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, had stopped taking his medication and was acting erratically in the street. She noted that his manic episodes were returning and that he had active warrants for missing court related to a previous release conditioned on medication compliance.
Deputies were directed to the family’s home, where Washington’s father allowed them inside and warned that his son was armed with a knife.
Officers attempted to communicate with Washington, who was inside a room.
The footage shows deputies calling out to him to come out and talk.
Moments later, Washington emerged holding an object. Deputies issued a single command to drop it before Washington allegedly lunged toward one of them.
Officers opened fire, fatally striking him. Deputies later confirmed the object was a knife, and they believed Washington was attempting to stab one of them.
One of the deputies fell into a bathtub during the confrontation and suffered a head injury but is expected to recover.