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There is a press conference scheduled for 4:00 (CT) this afternoon. This happened about 30 minutes south of me, and the following is the latest I've seen reported locally: (FWIW, no one in my neck of the woods has even suggested Sheriff McDaniel is nefariously involved.)

JACKSON COUNTY FLORIDA: This evening in Jackson County Florida, Sheriff Johnnie P. McDaniel’s wife and a Jackson County Deputy were murdered. Also dead are two suspects who killed Mrs. McDaniel and the Deputy.

According to the State Attorney Steve Meadows in a Tuesday evening press conference, the following details were revealed.

At approximately 4:50 P.M. Jackson County Sheriff John McDaniel was notified that intruders had entered the area around his residence. On the arrival of Sheriff McDaniel and Deputies, a gun battle ensued. Sheriff McDaniel found that his wife had been slain by the gunfire and also a Deputy responding with the Jackson County Sheriff Department. There was gunfire returned by the Jackson County Sheriff and Deputies and the two suspects which had accosted the Sheriff’s wife, Millie McDaniel, were also slain.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, the investigation is unfolding rapidly.

The area around the Sheriff’s residence is being searched to make sure there is no more suspects or evidence near the scene.

There are no more details available. They State Attorney’s Office will release more details on Wednesday as the investigation continues.

The State Attorney’s Office would not release specific details. The two dead assailants have not been identified but have ties to Jackson County. They do not believe this was a random event, but was specific to Sheriff McDaniel’s home. However, the State Attorney’s Office says the investigation is unfolding, at the time of the conference the incident was four hours old.

The individuals were pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Marianna.

Sheriff John McDaniel was carried to a Church where he was dealing with the loss of his wife and one of the Deputies. Major John Dennis is in charge of the investigation.

Sheriff McDaniel was present at the time of the gunfire, but he is not injured.

Responding to the scene was over 100 law enforcement from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is in charge of the crime scene investigation. Sheriff’s from all over the region have responded to assist.

The State Attorney’s Office said this is not a random act, but specific to Sheriff McDaniel. The State Attorney does not believe that any other persons other than the two dead are involved.

Sheriff McDaniel has been in office more than 24 years. When he was Sheriff Elect, his father was working the old Sheffield Service Station on 231 between Campbellton and the Alabama line. The store was robbed and his father was killed. This was on a Sunday evening. In fact, I (Rickey Stokes) was dispatching with Houston County Sheriff Department when the incident occured.

Source: http://www.rickystokesnews.com/news/news.php?newsid=2696