Whitey Ford
12-21-2023, 12:25 AM
A Florida man accused of trying to burn a 9-year-old boy he believed was demonically possessed, before hitting a sheriff’s deputy in the head with a metal rod, was shot dead on Tuesday, authorities said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6SCAK3HuvI
Responding deputies arrived and found 39-year-old Richard Myron Ham armed with two metal rods, according to authorities. Ham refused to comply with the deputies’ orders, at which point deputies used a Taser on him, though the sheriff’s office said that the Taser did not appear to have any effect.
"Ham pulled the Taser probes from his body and re-armed himself with one of the bars," Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman said. "He then swung the metal rod and struck a deputy in the head."
Another deputy opened fire and struck Ham, officials said. Ham was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The injured deputy was treated at another hospital and released.
During an investigation, deputies learned that Ham and 30-year-old Lakenya Phillips were burning the possessions of Phillips’ 9-year-old son.
Ham and Phillips believed the child "was possessed by a demon," according to the sheriff’s office.
Witnesses told deputies that they saw Ham put the child into the fire and cover him with a blanket that was already burning. The sheriff’s office said the child was able to escape the flames and avoid serious injury.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-killed-putting-child-thought-possessed-fire-striking-deputy-rod-sheriff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6SCAK3HuvI
Responding deputies arrived and found 39-year-old Richard Myron Ham armed with two metal rods, according to authorities. Ham refused to comply with the deputies’ orders, at which point deputies used a Taser on him, though the sheriff’s office said that the Taser did not appear to have any effect.
"Ham pulled the Taser probes from his body and re-armed himself with one of the bars," Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman said. "He then swung the metal rod and struck a deputy in the head."
Another deputy opened fire and struck Ham, officials said. Ham was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The injured deputy was treated at another hospital and released.
During an investigation, deputies learned that Ham and 30-year-old Lakenya Phillips were burning the possessions of Phillips’ 9-year-old son.
Ham and Phillips believed the child "was possessed by a demon," according to the sheriff’s office.
Witnesses told deputies that they saw Ham put the child into the fire and cover him with a blanket that was already burning. The sheriff’s office said the child was able to escape the flames and avoid serious injury.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-killed-putting-child-thought-possessed-fire-striking-deputy-rod-sheriff