The Waterbury Times|Breaking News|Sept 15, 2026

Florida- A former Waterbury resident and Wilby High School student, Elroy Clarke, was killed during an officer-involved shooting outside his home in Punta Gorda, Florida, on October 23, 2024.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when Clarke called 911 requesting assistance with an issue involving a tenant at his property on Sandy Pine Drive. When deputies arrived, they determined Clarke had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant related to a failure to appear in court on a trespassing charge.

Authorities said deputies attempted to take Clarke into custody after confirming his identity. The sheriff’s office stated that Clarke denied being the person named in the warrant, became increasingly agitated, and refused commands from deputies.

According to officials, the encounter escalated into a lengthy physical confrontation lasting approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Deputies said they attempted multiple less-lethal methods, including pepper spray, Tasers, and other physical control techniques, in an effort to gain compliance.

The sheriff’s office stated that Clarke eventually moved toward a deputy and made physical contact. Two deputies then fired their service weapons. One deputy fired 14 rounds, while another fired once. Clarke died at the scene.

Clarke was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Following the incident, Clarke’s family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell and the deputies involved. The lawsuit alleges that Clarke was experiencing a mental health crisis, that deputies unnecessarily escalated the encounter, and that the use of deadly force was excessive.

The sheriff’s office has disputed those claims, arguing that deputies used multiple progressive, non-lethal options before resorting to deadly force and that officers acted to protect themselves from what they described as an advancing physical threat.

The federal lawsuit centered on whether the deputies’ actions violated Clarke’s constitutional rights. A federal judge later dismissed the civil case against the defendants, addressing the legal claims brought forward in the lawsuit.

For many in Waterbury, Clarke’s death has brought attention back to a former member of the local community and raised questions about the challenges surrounding police encounters, mental health crises, and the use of force.

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