'LivePD' On Scene Of Fatal Shooting; No Word On Renewing Contract

PORT RICHEY, FL -- Detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting death of a Port Richey man that was covered on"LivePD" Saturday night while Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco considers whether to renew his office's contract with the live action cop show.

Deputies say Joshua Ellis was at his home on County Lake Drive arguing with a woman around 11 p.m. on Feb. 23 when his neighbor, Brien Colby, heard the argument and came out of his house to find out what was going on.

When Colby stepped toward Ellis' home, Ellis threatened to kill him if he didn't get off his property. Colby called 911 on his cell phone and was speaking with operators when deputies say he shot Ellis in the chest with a 9mm handgun.

Colby applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding, but Ellis was pronounced dead at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

At this time no arrests have been made.

A&E Network's "LivePD" television series was filming Pasco County deputies where the shooting occurred and was on the scene shortly after.

The filming comes at a time when the sheriff is considering whether to renew its contract with the network.

The Pasco Sheriff's Office is completing its second season with the television series. The contract with "LivePD" is up at the end of March.

When Nocco agreed to allow cameras to follow deputies on the job, he said it went along with his philosophy of full transparency in the sheriff's office.

“We really wanted to show what we’re doing and 'LivePD' gave residents the opportunity to see first hand what the deputies are going through,” he said.

In the two seasons since the Pasco Sheriff's Office has appeared on "LivePD," deputies, especially the K9 deputies and their dogs, have developed a kind of cult following. About 5,000 people showed up at "LivePD" meet-and-greet with Pasco deputies on Jan. 19.

See related story: K9 Shep's Heroics Capture National Spotlight On A&E's 'Live PD'

Last August, Pasco County commissioners questioned whether the show cast the county in a negative light. However, the county's Tourist Development Council put the matter to rest when it surveyed tourists and found that 82 percent of those surveyed said "LivePD" had no impact on their opinion of Pasco County.

Fans who follow the series are keeping their fingers crossed.

"Please renew your contract in March," Linda Oland Hagen pleaded with Sheriff Nocco on Facebook."Pasco County is my favorite on #LivePD and your officers are the best."

"Please say the rumors aren't true," wrote Jenn Holden. "You all will stay on LivePD, right? Pasco is the best agency on the show and many others need to learn from you. Plus we can't live without a K9 Shep fix every few weeks."

"LivePD" airs at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)