More details released in deputy-involved shooting, suspect has history of domestic violence
DeLAND, Fla.—The suspect shot by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies Tuesday night pointed a rifle at deputies before he was shot, according to LCSO.
Around 8:10 p.m., LCSO responded to a domestic battery at 31801 Division Street in the DeLand area of Lake County. A woman reported her husband, Harold Malcolm Hughes, 62, was drunk and threw a hot coffee pot at her. The victim was able to escape the home and spoke with deputies at an undisclosed location near her home, LCSO said. Deputies went to the home to attempt to speak with Hughes, who exited the residence holding a rifle in his hands. He ignored deputies’ commands to put the rifle down.
“Mr. Hughes ignored the repeated verbal commands, where he leveled the rifle at deputies, LCSO Public Information Officer Deputy Stephanie Earley said. “Two deputies were forced to discharge their firearms, striking Mr. Hughes.”

The deputies were not injured and rendered aid to Hughes. He was transported by air to HCA Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, where he remained Wednesday, Earley said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded to the scene Tuesday night and is investigating the shooting, standard procedure in all law enforcement-involved shootings. The deputies who fired their weapons are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, also standard procedure.
Hughes is facing several charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and domestic battery, and will be held on no bond upon his release from the hospital. Hughes has been arrested multiple times in Lake County since 2022, all for domestic violence related crimes. He was arrested in 2024 after being accused of pointing a gun at his wife and calling her racial slurs. That charge was later dropped. In 2023, his wife was granted an injunction for protection, Hughes was arrested for violating that injunction and it was dissolved in early 2024, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records.