PLANT CITY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man early Tuesday outside a worship center after they said the armed man was behaving erratically.

According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, authorities received a 911 call at 2:23 a.m. about a man banging on windows at the Divine Mercy Prayer House along Frontage Road near North Park Road.

What You Need To Know

  • Hillsborough deputies shoot, kill armed man early Tuesday in Plant City  

  • Authorities said man was erratic and trying to break into worship center 

  • Man refused to obey orders and drop weapon; police eventually shot him

Officials said the man was trying to get inside and threatening the clergy members that also live at the location.

Once deputies arrived, they tried multiple times to get the man to drop a weapon he was carrying, which turned out to be a railroad spike, Chronister said.

A two-minute long body cam video provided by HCSO shows the man acting bizarre, growling behind the gate of the worship center.

“We know from talking preliminary to the priests that live here that when he was acting erratic and banging on the windows, he said he wanted to kill them, but he never said why," said Chronister.

Deputies first deployed a restraint device, which did not contain him. They then used a taser. The man continued his behavior, which Chronister said also included the man making “loud grunting noises and pacing back and forth.”

Neighbors heard as deputies tried to de-escalate the situation.

“It could have been any home in the area, which is frightening, and I have two young kids, so safety and their wellbeing is my number one priority, so it’s definitely alarming when things like this happen so close to home,” said Plant City resident Zach Glaros.

Eventually, deputies fired shots at the man and he died at the scene.

"Our deputies showed extraordinary professionalism and exhausted every less lethal option to preserve life before this fatal outcome," Chronister said. "Their actions today serve as a reflection of the extensive training our deputies undergo and is a testament to the tools they have available to serve and protect the community."

The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. One deputy is a 17-year veteran and one started with the department just 10 months ago.