2 deadly shootings involving Charlotte County deputies under review

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office provided updates on two separate deadly incidents involving armed suspects.

Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell discussed two cases during a briefing outside the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. The first involved a standoff with Keith Blevins on April 1, and the second was a manhunt for Matthew Ryan Cross that led to lockdowns across several neighborhoods and schools on March 30.

In the April 1 incident, deputies responded to a call from a victim who reported she and Blevins had been arguing for hours. She said Blevins pulled out several guns before she was able to escape and contact authorities.

When deputies arrived, Blevins came out with a Glock 30 and pointed it at them. Deputies fired six shots, five of which struck Blevins. He later died from his injuries.

The second case involved Matthew Ryan Cross, who had multiple interactions with victim Charles Anderson leading up to the manhunt. Investigators said Cross burglarized Anderson's home and fired shots at it, stealing a handgun in the process.

On the day of the manhunt, Cross shot and killed Anderson with a gunshot to the head before fleeing into the woods. Cross had several standoffs with deputies before he was shot and killed by Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and North Port authorities.

Sheriff Prummell said Cross had a history of mental health issues and a lengthy criminal record.