PBSO identify man shot by deputy in shopping plaza

LAKE WORTH, Fla. (CBS12) — Authorities have released the name of the man shot and killed by a Palm Beach County deputy at a Lake Worth shopping center Thursday.

Benoit Pasteur, 38, was identified as the man allegedly pointing guns at people near the plaza on the corner of Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail.

He also reportedly tried to carjack a woman who had a child in the vehicle, PBSO Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a news conference held at the scene of the shooting Thursday.

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Bradshaw said Pasteur had an extensive criminal history, including arrests for possession of cocaine and aggravated assault.

Around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, a deputy responded to the scene and tried to de-escalate the situation, Bradshaw said at the news conference. The suspect was allegedly combative and pointed his rifle at the deputy, the sheriff said.

After getting Pasteur to drop his weapon, the deputy was forced to shoot when Pasteur picked up his rifle again, Bradshaw said.

“This could’ve ended really bad. I mean, who knows who he was gonna shoot. So, the deputy did a very good job neutralizing a very dangerous threat out here and did everything he could to de-escalate the situation,” Bradshaw said.