WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) - A 39-year-old southwest Florida man is dead after killing himself and wounding a paramedic.
Polk County Sheriff's officials say Michael A. Phillips jumped from a vehicle while a family member was trying to take him to the hospital. On Friday, he barricaded himself inside a business. Phillips, who apparently suffered from mental illness, was armed and had flammable materials in the building.
Authorities said he threatened to blow up the building and kill everyone.
As a vehicle was being pushed away from the building, Phillips began firing and struck 35-year-old SWAT paramedic John Mikula in the shoulder.
The building also erupted into flames. Authorities said they believe Phillips is dead, but deputies were waiting to fully extinguish the blaze before they could thoroughly search the building.
The paramedic is expected to make a full recovery.
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