Lake Placid, Fla. (970 WFLA)-A Highlands County Sheriff's Deputy has died after he was shot Sunday night, during a confrontation with a suspect accused of shooting his neighbor's cat.
Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman says around 8 last night, 40 year old Deputy William Gentry was shot while responding to a call at a home on Baltimore Way in Lake Placid, where two neighbors were fighting.
Deputy Gentry, a nine year veteran with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. He died there at 1:10 this afternoon.
The suspect , Joseph Edward Ables, 69, is in custody and it's expected he will face a first degree murder charge.
Sheriff Paul Blackman says, “William is an experienced law enforcement officer and serves as one of our Field Training Deputies. ” “His brother is one of our detectives. This is an unimaginable tragedy for our agency.
Blackman is with the family at the hospital. Agency spokesman Scott Dressel addressed reporters this afternoon, saying "there's no routine call... all law enforcement officers always have to be on their toes... and unfortunately, we've had the worst that could happen, happen to us."
Ables, who is a convicted felon with a history of violence towards law enforcement, was arrested at the scene and taken to the Highlands County Jail.
At this point, Joseph Edward Ables is charged with attempted first degree murder without premeditation, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, resisting an officer with violence, tampering with evidence and violation of probation.
Photo Credit: Highlands County Sheriff's Office