Police: Man kills himself in Daytona Beach officer-involved shooting

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Daytona Beach man who died in an officer-involved shooting killed himself, police said.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri made the announcement during a news conference Wednesday, once investigators received confirmation from the medical examiner's office.

The shooting was reported Tuesday around 12 p.m. on Bellevue Avenue, police said.

Police told Channel 9's Mike Springer  that they were called to a home after reports of a suicidal person. They found Shakaryi Willis, 23, holding a gun, threatening to harm himself while his sister tried to get the weapon, investigators said.

Police said Willis had been trying to get help for two weeks after having a bad reaction to the drug, acid, or LSD. He had been released from Halifax Hospital an hour before the shooting.

Police said the officer yelled at Willis several times to drop his weapon.

Body camera from Daytona Beach police officer Chris Maher showed Willis pointed the gun toward the officer. Maher fired five shots, but all missed Willis, Capri said.

"It's a tragedy for the family, of course. But it is also a tragedy for the officer, because the officer did not want to have to use deadly force, but he was forced to,"  Capri said. "His bullets did not kill Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis took his own life."

Maher has been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for two and a half years. He is on paid leave pending an FDLE investigation.

Cox Media Group