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Man found dead after Hernando shootout died by suicide, deputies say

Deputies said 53-year-old Michael Snyder ended a standoff by firing at deputies, then taking his own life.
 
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Published Aug. 21, 2020

A man found dead after a Wednesday night standoff with Hernando County sheriff’s deputies turned into a Thursday morning shootout died by suicide, deputies said Friday.

Deputies identified him as 53-year-old Michael Snyder. An autopsy determined the cause of death, they said.

Deputies arrived at about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday to 15301 Peach Orchard Road in Brooksville to serve an injunction, they said. When they encountered Snyder, they were “met with resistance,” a spokeswoman said Thursday.

For several hours, deputies said, Snyder refused to leave the travel trailer he was in. Then, at about 12:45 a.m., he started shooting at deputies. They returned fire before retreating.

Soon after, deputies said, they found Snyder dead inside the trailer. Nobody else was in the trailer, deputies said Friday.

The deputies involved have not been identified. Thursday, a spokeswoman said they’d been placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting.