POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man authorities said was a known, wanted suspect is dead after an altercation with law enforcement escalated Thursday night.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said deputies were alerted that the suspect, 45-year-old Matthew Bruce Coleman, was in the area of West Socrum Loop Road in Lakeland around 7 p.m.
Officials said Coleman was a suspect in multiple crimes and was considered to be armed and dangerous. He also had an active warrant.
Several witnesses told deputies that Coleman was possibly in a backyard shed when they arrived. When the deputies announced their presence, they were immediately shot at from the shed.
Deputies said they established a perimeter and communications with Coleman, but he refused to surrender. He eventually stopped communicating completely.
PCSO said a chemical agent was thrown into the shed, and when deputies finally went in, they found Coleman dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
They added that he had two loaded handguns in the shed with him, along with several spent shell casings.
No one else was injured during the incident.
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.
