A man who fired shots at the Sabal Trail Pipeline and equipment where it is being constructed in Central Florida later died during a shootout with sheriff's deputies following a chase.
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast said in a statement the gunman fired shots from a high-powered rifle Sunday morning at equipment being used to construct the natural gas line that will run from Alabama to Florida.
Deputies and the Florida Highway Patrol chased the man until he crashed near Floral City, 70 miles north of Tampa. Prendergast says the man got out and exchanged shots with deputies, who killed him. No deputies or other bystanders were known to be hurt by either incident.
Other weapons were found in the shooter's car. The man's name has not been released but he was believed to be working alone. The deputies were placed on leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is standard for a fatal shooting.
While the pipeline has been the subject of several protests by environmentalist groups who are against the project, the protesters maintain their actions have been peaceful and the shooting suspect was not affiliated with them.
No workers were present at the construction site when the man opened fire. There is no word yet of potential damage done to the pipeline, which has been under construction since September and is scheduled to be in service by June.
(Photo credit: Christopher Furlong)