Terrorism suspect shot, killed in Alachua County; FDLE investigating
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A man from Turkey was killed in an Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy-involved shooting in northwest Gainesville.
Sheriff’s office officials say deputies were serving a felony warrant this afternoon on Northwest 16th Boulevard near 35th Way when deputies shot Ali Bayhan, 38, for making what investigators call terrorism threats against several elected officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis. Authorities say Bayhan also threatened to blow up a Jewish temple in Tallahassee.
Posting to Facebook saying, “Yeah, they suspended Tallahassee Temple Israel today. I will destroy it until they apologize and pay punishment, besides other things.”
UPDATE: FDLE investigates shooting of terroristic threats suspect; 6 Alachua County deputies on leave
FDLE is leading the investigation, and U.S. Marshals agents were also called to the scene.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office first heard about Bayhan from the court system.
“We had received word from the courts, Alachua County courts, that an involuntary mental health evaluation had been issued,” shared ASO Public Information Officer Chris Sims. “It’s called an ex parte. We learned that an ex parte had been issued for Mr. Bayhan based on significant concerns by his family about his mental health.”
And then they started their investigation until U.S. Marshal agents quickly got involved.
“It began with us investigating his possible whereabouts to enact the ex parte order,” Sims said. “Again, as we continued in that investigation, we then learned that there was a criminal investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and then a subsequent arrest warrant leading us here.”
When warrant investigators from ASO, K-9 deputies, and U.S. Marshal agents attempted to serve the warrant, they say Bayhan stepped out of the home with a hoodie on and a handgun in his waistband.
Deputies say after he didn’t respond to commands, they sent a K-9 to try and get him safely, but then Bayhan reached for his gun, leading to deputies shooting him.
Bayhan was renting a garage apartment that was attached to the house where the shooting took place.
The bomb squad was brought in after an item with wires was found inside the home, but investigators say it was not an explosive.
Since this is a deputy-involved shooting, FDLE agents are continuing their investigation, which is protocol.
No deputies were hurt.
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