No deputies were injured in the incident, which began around 5 a.m., according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Haner’s death.
Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said deputies with the agency’s Special Response Team went to the residence to serve a search warrant, arrest warrant and risk protection order.
Aden said the warrants followed what he described as a pattern of escalating and concerning behavior by Haner, including allegedly displaying and firing a high-powered rifle in recent weeks.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Haner had active warrants related to allegations that included discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school and discharging a firearm in a residential neighborhood.
Court records show Haner had previous encounters with law enforcement. In 2022, he was arrested on charges of domestic violence battery and resisting an officer and later pleaded no contest, according to court records. In 2023, a judge granted a petition for a risk protection order involving Haner.
More recently, Haner made statements on Facebook about his interactions with authorities. In a July 3 post, he wrote, “But I still don’t care if I live or die.”
He ended the post with: “Touch me and you forfeit your life.”
“We’re certainly a pro-Second Amendment community, and we want to protect people’s rights,” Aden said. “But there is also state statutes and the concern of this community and the welfare.”
Aden said deputies attempted to convince Haner to leave the home and surrender peacefully.
“Despite trying to convince him to come out and surrender peacefully, he had other plans,” Aden said.
The Sheriff’s Office said Haner fired multiple rounds at deputies. Gunfire struck law enforcement equipment and nearby properties, including Richbourg School and another residence, according to Aden. No deputies or members of the public were injured.
Aden said deputies used SWAT resources and tactics to “neutralize the threat” after Haner began firing at them. He said deputies did not fire the first shot.
Once deputies were able to secure Haner and remove the weapon, Aden said they attempted lifesaving measures. Haner was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office has not provided details about the SWAT tactics used or the injuries that caused Haner’s death.
“At the end of the day, he chose to arm himself and fire on our officers, and when you do that you are going to end up dead,” Aden said. “And that’s exactly what happened here.”
Aden said the timing of the operation was also influenced by the proximity of the home to Richbourg School and the upcoming start of the school year.
“With school starting next week, this guy was continuing to display some very concerning behaviors, some violent behaviors that resulted in violations of statutes,” Aden said.
The Sheriff’s Office asked FDLE to independently investigate the incident and said it would not release further details about the circumstances while that investigation is underway.