PENSACOLA, Fla. — A man fatally shot during a deputy-involved incident Thursday afternoon in Escambia County has been identified as 37-year-old Daniel Lewis Hayes. The shooting occurred at an Arby’s restaurant on U.S. 98, where Hayes was employed for more than a decade.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO), deputies were attempting to apprehend Hayes around 3 p.m. in connection with multiple felony warrants stemming from a June 13 incident. Authorities say Hayes was wanted for domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a weapon, burglary, and grand theft.
When deputies spotted Hayes in the restaurant’s parking lot, they say he ran inside. Once inside, Hayes reportedly jumped the counter, pushed a deputy to the ground, and grabbed a large knife from within the restaurant. ECSO officials said that despite repeated verbal commands to drop the weapon, Hayes refused to comply and acted aggressively toward the deputies, holding the knife while removing items from his pockets and throwing them.
Fearing for their safety, all three deputies opened fire, striking Hayes multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured in the incident.
While authorities are continuing to investigate the use of force, family members are left grieving and demanding answers. In a statement to FOX10 News, Hayes’ loved ones described him as “very nice and loving,” someone who “didn’t bother anybody” and was affectionately known as “the life of the party.”
“Daniel worked at Arby’s for over 12 years,” the family said. “He loved his family dearly. We didn’t expect you to be gone so soon. We love you very much — until we meet again.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is expected to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting, which is standard protocol in deputy-involved fatalities.
