Approximately 9:15pm on September 19th Patrol Deputies responded to the 1300 Block of SW Abacus Avenue in Port St. Lucie to serve a court ordered Baker Act on W/M Joshua Scott.
When they arrived, they attempted to make contact with Mr. Scott inside the residence, he immediately armed himself with a handgun and barricaded himself inside the residence. Patrol Deputies attempted to coax him out of the house but when they were unsuccessful, the SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams were called to the scene.
Sheriff Mascara said once the specialty teams arrived, negotiators tried to make contact with Scott via telephone and text messaging. Telephone calls were short in duration, followed by Scott hanging up. Text messages were mostly ignored and when he did respond, no progress was made.
Throughout the more than six hour standoff, Scott fired multiple rounds from inside the residence. According to Sheriff Mascara, Scott was able to climb out a window of the residence, armed with a handgun. He pointed the handgun at SWAT members who were surrounding the house and they were forced to defend themselves. Scott was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting is being investigated at this time by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.
