Justin Chandler Smith Killed in Shootout With Deputy
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office reports that a 45-year-old man was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with a sheriff’s deputy after multiple 9-1-1 calls reported an armed individual acting erratically on Webber Road near Highway 231.
The incident began around 4 a.m. on September 3, 2025, when dispatchers received several reports of a man carrying a handgun and a magazine-fed shotgun. Some callers believed the weapon was an assault rifle. The armed man was later identified as Justin Chandler Smith, who the night before had been the subject of a harassment and trespassing complaint.
When a deputy located Smith, officials say he was immediately hostile. The deputy ordered him to set down the shotgun, but Smith instead reached for a holstered handgun. According to the sheriff’s office, Smith pulled the weapon and pointed it at the deputy, prompting an exchange of gunfire.
Smith was struck and fell to the ground but continued firing. The deputy returned fire, discharging seven rounds, while Smith fired six. Multiple bullets struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle, but no law enforcement officers or bystanders were injured.
Deputies provided CPR and medical aid until paramedics arrived, but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Both his handgun and shotgun were recovered as evidence.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been called in to investigate the shooting, which remains ongoing.