TAMPA FL- An off-duty Hernando County sheriff's deputy and an off-duty Tampa police officer were involved in a shooting this afternoon that left a nude woman dead, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said.
According to deputies, the shooting took place at 1:17 p.m. in the area of Orchard Way in Spring Hill, where Hernando Det. Rocky Howard, 31, and Tampa police Officer William Mechler, 26, were at a party.
"A lady came up who was naked and acting a little bit irrational," said Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis. "They asked her to leave and after a little bit of confrontation she did leave."
The detectives called the sheriff's office to let them know what happened, but a short time later the woman came back with a weapon.
The sheriff says one or both of the officers fired their weapons, killing her.
"I can tell you she was not part of the gathering nor was she invited to the gathering," Nienhuis said.
"She came with a weapon and I would surmise that they felt their life was in danger."
Investigators have not said what kind of weapon the woman was carrying, but they did say they don't think she was targeting the officers.
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