Last updated: May 9, 1 p.m.
A 53-year-old gunman armed with an AR-15 rifle on the roof of an apartment complex in Marathon shot three police cruisers before appearing to take his own life late Thursday evening, officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office told the Keys Weekly. No other injuries were reported.
A standoff with law enforcement, including the MCSO SWAT team, left the entrances to Sombrero Beach Road and Sombrero Boulevard closed for more than two hours as dozens of units from agencies throughout the Keys responded. Area residents attempting to return home were turned away by the team, with cars filling the nearby parking lots until the blockade was lifted.
The incident began shortly before 10 p.m. with reports of a man throwing objects off the roof of the complex at 9 Sombrero Boulevard, MCSO said. As officers were en route, they received reports of gunshots, heard again when they arrived on scene. As deputies approached the building, the gunman opened fire on their recently-vacated vehicles, striking three of the cars.
In conjunction with the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and FWC officers, deputies worked to set a perimeter around the apartments, calling for assistance via helicopter from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Arriving on scene with a spotlight and law enforcement sniper, the helicopters reported a man on the roof of the building who appeared deceased with blood coming from his head, Sheriff Rick Ramsay told the Weekly. As the SWAT team had not heard any recent activity from the gunman, they went up on the roof and confirmed his death via an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A Glock pistol was found next to the shooter, along with the rifle.
Early Friday morning, Ramsay confirmed the identity of the shooter as Duane Clayton Day, a resident of the building who had reportedly finalized a divorce two days earlier and recently lost his job.
Unofficial reports from locals late Thursday night claimed that the incident began at the Wendy’s fast food restaurant at 5150 Overseas Highway before the suspect ran across U.S. 1 and went up to the roof. These reports, Ramsay told the Weekly, were not accurate, as the apartment complex was the shooter’s residence and there was no known incident at the restaurant before the 10 p.m. reports.
“I am relieved no deputies or members of the public were harmed during this incident,” said Ramsay in a 2 a.m. press release after the shooting. “I want to thank the brave deputies and officers who responded and ran toward danger to ensure our community’s safety.”
If you or anyone you know are in a crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
