X

Find a shooting

There were 772 cases of police shootings between 2009 and 2014. Use the filters below to find cases that match a certain set of criteria.

Read more on how we defined these filters

Or start with these randomly selected cases:

WHY COPS SHOOT

Search all cases

Dec. 19, 2012 — Fort Pierce

John Donald Austgen Jr., 47, was reportedly seen by an officer engaging in a hand-to-hand drug deal.

It turned out he was trying to sell a Viagra pill, but the other person didn't want it.

Several officers — including St. Lucie County sheriff's Deputy Keith Pearson and Fort Pierce police Sgt. Bill Hall and Officer Keith Holmes — pursued Austgen's black pickup. Read more

Austgen crashed into one of the police vehicles, and Holmes and Pearson shot at Austgen after he reportedly drove toward them at separate times.

Pearson fired his gun at Austgen when he thought the driver was going to run him over but Austgen swerved and headed in the direction of Holmes.

Holmes fired multiple shots at the front, driver's side and rear of the vehicle.

Austgen was struck in the back of the head. He died of his injuries about two weeks later.

Authorities said Austgen told his female passenger that he did not want to go back to prison.

This was the 128th police shooting in Florida in 2012.

Three days earlier, two officers shot one person in Clearwater .

Four days later, two officers shot one person in Clearwater .

6 ways this case compares to others

  1. Officers approached Austgen after he was suspected of committing a minor crime. That’s true in 1 of every 12 cases.
  2. Austgen was one of 36 people shot in the back by police.
  3. Austgen was one of 25 people who were shot after telling someone that he wouldn't go to jail or back to prison.
  4. Officers shot 16 bullets. The average was eight.
  5. Austgen and 94 other people who police shot reportedly drove at an officer.
  6. Austgen was fleeing from police or a crime scene, which is true in a quarter of shootings.

More cases

2011. JACKSONVILLE — Antonio Cooks was fatally shot and Verne Williams was critically injured by Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Jason... 1 killed 1 injured
2009. SARASOTA — Two deputies responding to a call about a domestic disturbance were outside the rear of a Sarasota... 2 injured
2011. PALM HARBOR — About 1:30 a.m., July 25, a deputy spotted a car driving erratically near the Shoppes at Boot Ranch. Bradley Gaus pulled over into the parking lot, near... 1 injured