Deltona, FL – A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy is now on paid leave after he shot and killed a man who pointed a gun at deputies investigating a cab fare dispute in Deltona.
That deputy – 28-year-old Kyle Cowger – is now under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement following that Monday night incident at a home on Maldive Court in Deltona.
Cowger was called to the home just before 6:30 PM at the request of the cab driver, according to VCSO spokesman Gary Davidson.
“The customer initially tried to pay the fare with a credit card, but the card was declined,” Davidson added. “The customer then offered to write a check for the bill, but the taxi driver told him that they only accepted cash or credit cards.”
The deputy arrived on scene around 15 minutes later and it was around 30 minutes after that when the cab passenger – 39-year-old Robert L. Teter of Sanford – came out of the residence carrying a gun after going inside, per Davidson.
“Perceiving a threat, Deputy Cowger drew his duty weapon and fired on the man in the doorway of the residence,” Davidson noted. “The man was shot multiple times.”
Teter was airlifted to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford and underwent surgery, according to VCSO. He died soon afterward, according to VCSO spokesman Andrew Gant.
It’s standard procedure for deputies to be placed on administrative leave with pay while FDLE investigates deputy-involved shootings.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.