Man killed in deputy-involved shooting

INDIAN SHORES - The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says the driver of a black Ford Mustang was driving recklessly, fled from deputies— even taunted them and then opened fire.

"I see two more cop cars fly down that way. About 30 minutes later, we heard the pop, pop, pop pop, pop," said Ralph Heath, witness and founder of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.

According to detectives, a deputy spotted the mustang with Kentin Dion Brooks, 26, behind the wheel around 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Brooks was cutting other drivers off and speeding down Gulf Boulevard in Indian Shores, deputies said.

He refused to pull over and detectives said the deputies did not chase him, but Brooks returned and began circling the deputies with his car.

"He was obviously trying to engage them in some type of pursuit or confrontation. We are not really sure of a motive at this point," PCSO Sgt. Tom Nestor said.

Still deputies said they refused to react, until they say Brooks rammed his Mustang into a cruiser. That's when deputies forced the car off the road.

"The vehicle goes off the road. The deputies goes to exit their cars to confront the subject, and he opens fire from his car while sitting inside the vehicle," Nestor said.

Detectives say that's when the deputies were forced to fire back, shooting and killing Brooks.

"About 30 cop cars come flying down the road in front of us and I mean they were moving. I've never seen so many police cars in one place on this beach," witness Willie Livingston said.

Pinellas Deputies and Indian Shores Police are still investigating, but say it appears those on duty did all they could.

"They had no choice but to defend themselves," Nestor said.

Detectives say we may never know what caused Brooks to provoke officers, a decision that ultimately ended his life.

Jail records show Brooks was arrested three times in Pinellas County since 2006 on charges of drugs and carrying a concealed weapon. He also served one year in prison on drug charges.