MARATHON, Fla. – A man who was armed with an AR-15 took his own life Thursday night after shooting at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vehicles in Marathon, authorities confirmed Friday morning.
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The suspect has been identified by authorities as Duane Clayton Day, 53, who they said had recently lost his job and whose divorce was finalized this week.
According to MCSO spokesman Adam Linhardt, deputies responded to an apartment complex on Sombrero Boulevard around 10 p.m. after receiving reports about a man throwing objects from a roof.
He said deputies arrived at the scene and heard the sound of gunshots as they approached the building.
“The Deputies were clear of their vehicles when the gunman began shooting at the vehicles,” Linhardt said in an email to Local 10 News.
According to Linhardt, “a perimeter was established as the SWAT Team and additional officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also responded. Nearby roads were cordoned off to ensure the public’s safety.”
Linhardt said two Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office helicopters – one of which was carrying a law enforcement sniper – also responded to the area.
He said those onboard one of the helicopters spotted the suspect’s motionless body on the roof.
Members of the SWAT Team then approached the roof and confirmed the suspect was dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
According to Linhardt, a Glock pistol and the AR-15 were found near Day’s body.
Day was a resident of the apartment complex where the shooting occurred, authorities said.
“I am relieved no Deputies or members of the public were harmed during this incident,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I want to thank the brave Deputies and Officers who responded and ran toward danger to ensure our community’s safety.”