Authorities identify man shot following dump truck theft

MILTON — The Milton Police Department has identified the man shot and killed by law enforcement officers Tuesday following the theft of a dump truck as Edward Matthew Guerrero-Cruz.

Cruz, 34, is a resident of Milton, a news release from the city said.

According to reports, Cruz jumped into a dump truck left idling at The Other Place gas station in Milton at about 5:10 a.m., Tuesday and took off with it.

Law enforcement officers made contact with the truck on U.S. Highway 90 near the main office of the Santa Rosa County School District and began pursuing the stolen vehicle.

Cruz drove the truck onto the campus of Pensacola State College in Milton, according to reports, where two Milton police officers and a Santa Rosa County deputy closed in.

Cornered, the driver of the dump truck rammed both a city police car and the deputy’s vehicle, reports said. Officers fired into the truck and Cruz was killed.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson has said that his deputy discharged his weapon during the incident. Milton Police Department officials have not disclosed whether one or both of their officers also fired their guns during the incident.

All three officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting with the investigation.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Authorities identify man shot following dump truck theft