On Wednesday night, Palm Beach County deputies responded to a call at Sandalfoot Square in Boca Raton just before 10 p.m. They found 30‑year‑old Army veteran Joshua Senfeld sitting beside his car, holding a firearm and repeatedly stating, “I want to die, I want to kill myself,” according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
Deputies attempt de‑escalation
Bradshaw said deputies spent more than an hour and a half trying to calm Senfeld. By about 11:30 p.m., the veteran began to stand with the gun in what the sheriff described as “a ready position.” The deputies, fearing for their safety and the safety of the public, believed he was about to fire.
“There was no doubt in my mind or the deputies that were there that he was getting ready to do something,” Bradshaw said. “They felt in jeopardy.” At that point, the deputies discharged their weapons, delivering a fatal shot.
Friend remembers the veteran
Brandon Haight, a close friend who served with Senfeld in Afghanistan, described the fallen soldier as “an amazing guy to be around, a great friend.” Haight recalled that Senfeld was the type of person who would “give the shirt off his back” and that he could be counted on any time of day.
Haight also shared a final text Senfeld sent moments before the shooting, in which the veteran apologized and called Haight “his best friend in the Army.” “I don’t think he would’ve harmed the police or anyone, and I’m not sure he intended for the police to kill him either,” Haight said.
Aftermath and investigation
The next morning, witnesses reported a deputy cruiser with apparent bullet holes and a nearby bar window that had been struck by stray rounds. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office placed the involved deputies on paid leave pending a standard investigation. WPBF 25 News is seeking body‑camera footage from the sheriff’s office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The incident underscores the challenges law‑enforcement officers face when confronting individuals in crisis. While the loss of a young veteran is tragic, the sheriff’s office maintains that the deputies acted in accordance with department policy after exhausting de‑escalation efforts.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
