KEY WEST, Fla. – A man who was reported missing from Port St. Lucie fatally shot himself in front of a deputy early Thursday morning, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin said Deputy Jorge Prince was patrolling the end of Old Boca Chica on Big Coppitt Key at about 12:30 a.m. when he saw a Ford F150 parked at the barricades.
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Prince said he told Terrence Haynes, 61, that he was not allowed to park there, because the beach closes at 11 p.m.
The deputy said Haynes claimed that he was trying to get some sleep before heading north. Prince then asked Haynes for identification and found out he had been reported missing.
Prince said he asked Haynes to step out of the truck, but Haynes became agitated and drove off. Prince radioed for assistance and followed Haynes, who deputies said stopped a short distance away.
Herrin said Haynes was outside the truck with his back turned to Prince and was smoking a cigarette.
Prince said he told Haynes to show him his hands. He said Haynes then raised a gun to the side of his own head and fired one shot.
Herrin said Prince performed CPR until rescue units arrived, but Haynes was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
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