Here’s a step-by-step look at last night’s police-involved shooting, based on Lakeland Police Department news releases and a statement to reporters:

  • Shannon K. Wood, 46, and her boyfriend, Wesley Lee Cook, who turned 44 today, argue and Cook takes Wood’s cellphone from her.
  • At 8:43 p.m. Monday, Wood calls LPD saying she needs help retrieving personal items from Cook’s house at 1563 Turtle Rock Court. She calls from a 7-Eleven on Edgewood Drive since Cook has her phone. Wood tells the dispatcher she wanted an officer to stand by to avoid a fight with Cook.

  • Officers Paul Dunn and David Cook are sent to meet Wood.
  • As they travel, the officers receive a message that Cook has two firearms at his house.
  • The officers speak with Wood and decide to go to Cook’s house and talk with him about retrieving Wood’s belongings.
  • When they get to Cook’s house, the officers knock on the door and ring the doorbell.
  • The officers see Cook approaching through a side window. He’s nude and holding what appears to be a black handgun.
  • The officers back up to the side of a garage,
  • Cook opens the door still holding the gun.
  • The officers tell Cook to drop the gun.
  • Cook refuses.
  • Dunn shoots nine times, hitting Cook four times.
  • A loaded 40-caliber, semi-automatic firearm is recovered next to where Cook fell after he was shot.
  • Attempts were made to treat Cook at the scene He “was combative and still refused any commands and did not want medical treatment,” a news release said.
  • Cook is taken to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was reported in critical condition. Surgery was scheduled for this afternoon.
  • Police officials talked with neighbors. At least one witness said she heard the officers tell Cook to drop his gun.
  • No charges have been filed yet. The investigation continues.
  • Dunn, who has been with LPD for 2 1/2 years, was the officer involved in the shooting and he will be placed on administrative leave during the investigation, per policy.

Ofc Dunn was formerly employed by @PolkCoSheriff but was dismissed in ’09 after an internal investigation @FOX13News pic.twitter.com/KjQwi5G6Mn

— Lucas Bogg (@LucasBoggPhotog) December 29, 2015

The Sheriff’s Office dismissed Dunn on charges of insubordination and neglect of duty, The Ledger reported.

In 2004, he shot in individual during a drug raid while he was a sheriff’s deputy; that shooting was ruled justified by the State Attorney’s Office, The Ledger reported.

The suspect, Wesley Cook, has no prior criminal history, according to @LakelandPD. @FOX13News

— Lucas Bogg (@LucasBoggPhotog) December 29, 2015

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Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.

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