1 dead following shooting involving police officers

LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A spokesperson with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office says what began as a reported road rage incident ended in the fatal shooting of a man by police.

Kim Cannaday said the alleged road rage encounter was reported just after 7 p.m., along Lake Mary Boulevard.  The suspect pulled into the Shoppes of Lake Mary and was confronted a short while later by three Lake Mary police officers.

"They tried to get the indivdual to come out of the vehicle," Cannaday explained. "However, when he exited the vehicle, he was brandishing a firearm, at which time, the Lake Mary officers engaged him with fire."

Paramedics were nearby for an unrelated issue and attempted to revive the man, but he died from his injuries.  His identity was not immediately released. 

It remains unclear if all officers involved fired shots at the suspect, or if the suspect returned fire. 

The names of the officers were not released during a news conference shortly before 10 p.m., but they were all described as having a minimum of four years of experience with the police force.

"It's a life or death situation for not only officers, but a lot of people in this area," said Lake Mary Deputy Police Chief Mike Biles.

The officers involved in the shooting incident have been placed on leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates.