RANGE PARK, Fla. A 21-year-old man was shot by a Clay County sheriff’s deputy Wednesday afternoon after authorities said he pointed a firearm at deputies during a standoff near the Orange Park Mall.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said the incident began shortly after 1 p.m. on July 8 when the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Daniel Siewert was livestreaming on TikTok and making statements suggesting he might harm himself.
Deputies responded to Siewert’s home on Carroll Street and spoke with him. According to Cook, Siewert denied making statements about self-harm and showed no visible signs of injury. Deputies also observed what they believed to be a firearm on a table inside the residence before leaving and returning to service.
About an hour later, dispatch received a call from one of Siewert’s family members, who reported that Siewert had said he planned to commit suicide by taking an excessive amount of ibuprofen. The family member also told deputies that Siewert said he was “ready to take us on,” referring to law enforcement, if deputies returned to the home. Cook said Siewert has a history of suicide, and the family member believed the threats were credible.
Deputies returned to the residence, but Siewert had left on foot. The sheriff’s office Real-Time Crime Center tracked him on surveillance cameras as he walked into a business area near the Orange Park Mall while appearing to carry a firearm.
Authorities established a perimeter and attempted to locate and communicate with Siewert. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., dispatch received another report that Siewert was hiding behind a green garbage container with what appeared to be a gun and was sending text messages about having a shootout with law enforcement.
Deputies eventually located Siewert behind a business on Blanding Boulevard, where he was concealed behind a large dumpster. While deputies attempted to negotiate with him, Cook said Siewert pointed a firearm at one of the deputies. Another deputy then fired, striking Siewert.
Despite being wounded, Siewert continued communicating with deputies. Additional deputies arrived, and one deputy was able to persuade him to surrender by putting down the weapon and coming out with his hands raised.
Siewert was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital with gunshot wounds. Cook said she did not know how many times he had been struck. No deputies were injured during the incident.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. The State Attorney’s Office will also review the evidence.