A manhunt is under way in Florida after deputies said a man trying to stop a dog attack accidentally shot and killed the animal’s owner, sparking a large police search and school lockdowns.
43-year-old Matthew Lee Pasco fled the scene on foot after the shooting on Friday in Leesburg, in Lake County. Authorities say the incident happened on Griffin Road near a homeless camp area, reports the Independent.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco allegedly stepped in when a dog attacked a woman and tried to shoot the animal. However, the dog was not hit, and instead the dog’s owner, a man, was fatally shot.
The victim was taken to hospital but later died. The woman who was attacked was also injured in the dog attack and is receiving treatment. Their names have not been released.
Deputies said Pasco ran from the scene immediately after the shooting and remains at large. He is believed to still be armed with a handgun.
He is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 150 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a noticeable scar on the right side of his face. Officials say he is homeless and known to frequent the Leesburg area. Authorities have warned the public not to approach him.
Lake County Public Schools confirmed that Carver Middle School was placed on lockdown during the search operation.
Pasco is currently considered a “person of interest” rather than formally charged, but police say he is armed and dangerous. Officials have released multiple contact channels for information and urged anyone who sees him to contact law enforcement immediately.
