Deputies arrived at Wooten’s residence in Paradise Heights to serve him an outstanding arrest warrant for burglary and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Upon the deputies’ arrival, however, Wooten pointed a gun at the officers, who then retreated to call for a SWAT team.
Hours later, when Wooten exited the house, he was ordered to put his hands in the air. Wooten then reached for a gun in his waistband before he was hit with nonlethal rounds. Wooten fired back with what was actually a BB gun replica of a real handgun, as at least five SWAT team members opened fire in return, Demings said.
Wooten was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.
Five Orange County deputies have since been placed on paid administrative leave, as is the standard practice when an officer-involved shooting occurs, Demings announced earlier today.
“I do believe that our deputies did everything that they could to try and resolve this situation in a peaceful manner,” Demings said at a press conference following the incident.
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This article appears in Aug 1-7, 2018.