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AUBURNDALE, Fla. (AP) — A central Florida deputy shot a man to death during a standoff after authorities say the man pointed a stapler at the deputy.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said deputies responded to a call Monday about suspected drug activity at an Auburndale home. Officials say 34-year-old Dominic Fuller, who was suspected in a shooting earlier this month, fled on foot as deputies approached.

He told a news conference that Fuller was seen trying to open doors of cars and homes and was heard by one witness yelling, “I have a gun.” Deputies eventually found Fuller outside a home, and ran inside, according to the sheriff.

After repeated commands to surrender, Judd said, Fuller showed only his left hand while keeping the right hand hidden behind his back.

Judd said Fuller went back inside, then emerged and pointed a black and chrome object at the deputy. Police say the 33-year-old deputy feared for his life and fired five times. The object turned out to be a stapler.

Local media reports said Fuller had been arrested 17 times on 32 charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, carjacking and child abuse.

“We don’t choose to shoot people. People choose for us to shoot them,” Judd said, adding that Fuller had set up “a perfect storm.”

Here is how the situation unfolded according to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office:

Around 7:15 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2015, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call in reference to a suspicious vehicle and suspected illegal drug activity on Delon Court in Auburndale. According to the reportee, several people were coming into and out of a house located on Delon Court. Incidentally, a shooting occurred at 311 Delon Court on September 13, 2015, which is still under investigation by PCSO. When deputies arrived on-scene, they made verbal contact with a Hispanic male sitting in a car, later positively identified as the suspect in last week’s shooting investigation, as Dominic Fuller, DOB 11/11/80, with a last known address of 3800 US Hwy 17/92 lot 6 in Haines City. Fuller immediately fled on foot. A perimeter was established, including K-9 teams and the PCSO helicopter. A search of the vehicle in which Fuller was sitting when deputies arrived confirmed it was stolen from Osceola County on July 18, 2015. Deputies located a handgun inside the car. Interviews with witnesses confirmed Fuller has been driving the car for at least a month. During Fuller’s attempt to avoid being taken into custody, he entered a camper parked behind 1237 Dixie Drive and woke up a woman sleeping within it. He demanded that she give him a ride. The woman, in fear and in an attempt to get him out of the camper, led him outside and went into the home behind which the camper was parked. Fuller asked the woman inside that home for a ride or a bicycle. Neither of the victims cooperated with Fuller, so he fled on foot. While fleeing through the area, Fuller was seen by witnesses trying car door handles and residential door handles, and he was heard by at least one witness yelling, “I have a gun!” Deputies in the area began searching homes on Dixie Drive to find Fuller, having received information from witnesses that he was trying to enter homes and yelling he was armed. Around 8:50 p.m. Deputy Sheriff Carlos Valle spotted Fuller standing in the doorway of 1200 Dixie Drive. Deputy Valle ordered Fuller several times to show his hands – Fuller stood off-center from the deputy, showing only his left hand and concealing his right hand behind his back, refusing commands. As Deputy Valle approached Fuller, Fuller went into the house and slammed the door. Deputies surrounding the home saw Fuller running to a window at the side of the house and then climb out of the window. At that time, Deputy Sheriff Ricky Booher shined the flashlight mounted atop his firearm at Fuller. Fuller then climbed back into the window and retreated into the house. Deputies continued to shout commands at Fuller to surrender. Fuller opened the front door and continued to stare at Deputy Valle, ignoring commands to show his hands and surrender. Deputy Sheriff Gabriel Reveron was positioned in an area of concealment near the doorway. Fuller then turned his attention from Deputy Valle to Deputy Reveron, and raised his right hand, which appeared to be holding a black and chrome handgun. Deputy Reveron, in fear for his life and others, fired five rounds at the suspect. The suspect immediately retreated back into the house and slammed the door. The PCSO SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene and spent the next two hours trying to establish contact with the barricaded suspect and take him into custody. Around 11:05 p.m. the SWAT team made entry into the home and located Fuller deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body. He was the only one inside the home. The three people who live in the home were away for various reasons and are not known to Fuller. A firearm was not located in the house with Fuller. Deputies located a black and silver stapler near the body. It appears Fuller held a stapler in his hand and pointed it at deputies when ordered to surrender. An autopsy will be conducted today to determine exact cause of death. There are four independent investigations ongoing at this time: A criminal death investigation; a PCSO Administrative Investigation; an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office; and an autopsy and investigation conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office. Deputy Sheriff Gabriel Reveron has been placed on paid administrative leave, per standard protocol.