Tampa Man Fatally Shot After Threatening Deputy With Knife

TAMPA, FL — A 48-year-old Tampa man threatening a sheriff's deputy with a knife has died after being shot by the deputy.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was called to 8607 Misty River Court in Tampa around 6 p.m. Thursday for a report of a suicidal man.

A relative of Lenny Blaine Griffin said Griffin's wife recently died, and he was having financial problems. He had taken medication and was threatening to kill himself.

Deputy Nguyen Tran responded to the home, and Griffin's girlfriend let the deputy inside. Tran said Griffin came out of a bedroom carrying a large chef's knife. Nguyen ordered Griffin to drop the knife multiple times as Griffin approached him with the knife raised. Tran retreated from the home, through the front yard and into a neighbor's yard while continuing to order Griffin to drop the knife.

When Griffin did not heed Tran's orders, Tran fired his weapon at Griffin out of fear for his own life. Griffin was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

The sheriff's office had been called to Griffin's home several times because of Griffin's erratic behavior.

Tran was hired by the sheriff's office in 2016. He has no prior internal affairs incidents other than a traffic crash. He's been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.