Troubled Winter Haven Man Commits 'Suicide By Cop'

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- A 20-year-old Winter Haven man who was shot and killed by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies Tuesday, March 20, had a long history of mental health problems, said Sheriff Grady Judd.

On Tuesday night, Chance Haegele posted a Snapchat message in which he threatened to kill himself. A friend saw the message and called 911.

Emergency dispatchers called Haegele’s residence at a mobile home park on Jay Drive in Winter Haven and spoke with Haegele’s mother who told dispatchers that her son had a shotgun and said he wanted cops to kill him.

That’s just what happened, said Judd.

Deputies arrived at about 11:15 p.m. and found Haegele outside arguing with his mother who was trying to convince him to put down the gun.

Upon seeing the deputies, Haegele began running through the mobile home park with the shotgun. Deputies ordered him to drop the gun. Instead, Haegele pointed it at one of the deputies, Judd said.

Two deputies fired 17 shots toward Haegele, hitting him several times. He died at the scene.

Judd said it was a classic case of “suicide by cop.”

“The deputies did everything they should have last night. I stand behind their decision,” he said. “This is a sad ending to a troubled life.”

Haegele, who had made previous suicide threats, was Baker Acted (involuntarily committed to a mental health facility) seven times.

Image via Polk County Sheriff