Gregory Miedema, the suspect in the shooting of a Taylor County Sheriff's deputy, is dead. Law enforcement confirmed his death at a news conference Wednesday. Miedema was shot and killed by a Dixie County homeowner while trying to break into the person's house as law enforcement was searching for him.
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Wednesday afternoon's news conference confirmed a shooting at a home in Dixie County that morning led to Miedema's death.
Miedema was a registered sex offender in Lee County, and it is unclear why he was in North Florida. The Dixie County homeowner is also being treated for a gunshot wound but is recovering and is expected to be released from the hospital today.
Troy Anderson, the deputy who was shot Tuesday night, is undergoing facial reconstructive surgery but is in stable condition. Anderson was shot during a traffic stop just after 10 p.m. There was no backup on the scene. It is unclear what led to the stop, but Anderson had dispatched a tag number for the vehicle, allowing for a Blue Alert to be sent out across Florida. These alerts are issued when a law enforcement officer is killed or injured by a suspect who is considered a threat to the public.
It was only the fourth time a Blue Alert has been issued since the program's inception.