Unarmed Black Man Killed in Scuffle With Dundee Police - Caught Shoplifting at Supermarket

A 31-year-old Dundee man who was accused of a theft at a shopping center was shot and killed Thursday night after a scuffle with a Dundee police officer, according to the Sheriff's Office.

At 11:30 p.m. Officer Nicholas "Nick" Burns and his supervisor, Corp. Ralph Marshall, responded to a reported theft at Winn Dixie, 28047 U.S. 27, at Dundee Road. When they arrived, they encountered Tyrone Hawkins, of 218 Shepard Ave., in the parking lot, according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office report.

Hawkins got into an altercation with Burns, causing Burns to discharge his handgun, killing Hawkins, the report stated.

Hawkins died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office.

The Medical Examiner's Officer and the Polk County Sheriff's Office would not say how many times Hawkins was shot. Because the police department is a small agency, the Sheriff's Office is investigating the death.

Sheriff's Office officials did not release any further details on the incident, including whether Hawkins was armed with a weapon, because the case is under investigation. Investigators also declined to explain Marshall's role in the scuffle.

Law enforcement officials did not disclose what it was Hawkins was accused of stealing from Winn-Dixie. The State Attorney's Office will determine whether the shooting was justified.

Burns and Marshall have been placed on routine paid administrative leave. Burns was slightly bruised when he fell from a truck during his struggle with Hawkins, Dundee Police Lt. Rick Bowman said.

Bowman, who has worked for the police department for 10 years, said this is the department's first officer involved shooting in recent memory.[MORE]