Brandon Whitworth, a 49-year-old homeless man struggling with mental illness, was shot eight times by a Pasco County sheriff’s deputy on October 2 near a Hudson convenience store. Authorities stated Whitworth was trespassing and armed with a knife, justifying the use of deadly force to protect bystanders. The deputy, identified as Jarrod Fredrickson, fired all eight shots within six seconds according to body-camera footage. Whitworth’s family disputes this narrative, believing he posed no imminent threat and that the killing was unnecessary. They are considering legal action while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the incident. The family highlights Whitworth’s religious devotion and struggles with accessing mental health treatment and medication.
Key Points:
- Brandon Whitworth, 49, was shot eight times by a deputy within six seconds near a Hudson convenience store on October 2.
