LABELLE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man was arrested Monday in the fatal shooting of an off-duty state wildlife officer, authorities said.
Eliceo Hernandez, 20, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to a Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting early Sunday morning in a neighborhood in LaBelle and found Julian Keen Jr., 30, fatally shot, official said. Keen had been an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“Our hearts are aching today,” Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden said in a statement. “He was a remarkable man because of the depths of his commitment to all around him.”
Deputies had taken three people into custody for questioning by Sunday afternoon. Investigators said they were able to determine through interviews that Keen and another man had witnessed a reckless driver, and Keen followed the driver in his truck. After both Keen and Hernandez stopped, officials said Keen confronted Hernandez and was later shot.
Hernandez was being held on $500,000 bond. Jail records didn’t list an attorney.
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