Bay County, Florida — Deputies faced a life-or-death encounter on September 3 when 45-year-old Justin Chandler Smith pointed a gun at law enforcement.
The day began with frantic 911 calls. Residents reported a man with a “rifle” walking erratically near Webber Road and Highway 231. Some thought he aimed it at passing cars. Dispatch quickly sent deputies.
Deputies already knew Smith. The night before, they had responded to a harassment and trespassing complaint where he acted aggressively. This morning, things escalated.
A deputy spotted Smith carrying a magazine-fed shotgun and a holstered pistol. Body cam footage shows the officer calmly giving commands. Smith refused. The deputy said, “Don’t you touch it!” But Smith drew his pistol and opened fire.
A gunfight erupted. Smith fired six rounds, striking the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The deputy fired back seven times, hitting Smith. Despite being shot, Smith kept pulling the trigger until collapsing.
The deputy immediately shifted gears. He started CPR and tried to save the same man who had just shot at him. Additional deputies arrived and joined lifesaving efforts. Paramedics later pronounced Smith dead.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating, as required after any officer-involved shooting. Sheriff Tommy Ford said transparency guided the decision to release the body cam video.
“This is not for entertainment,” Ford stressed. “It’s to show the public what happened and the split-second decisions deputies make to protect strangers.”
Smith’s family has been notified. Sheriff Ford asked the community to pray both for them and for the young deputy whose actions prevented further tragedy.
The video shows the harsh reality of policing: one moment giving calm commands, the next fighting for survival. In Bay County, it’s a reminder that deputies stand ready to confront danger — even when it comes suddenly, on a roadside in the middle of the morning.
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