Lenny Blane Griffith's sister called police to report her brother was suicidal and had a long history of mental illness. A deputy responded. Griffith was in a bedroom near the back of the home. The deputy told Griffith to put down the knife, but Griffith charged him, chasing the deputy through the hallway, into the driveway, and eventually into a neighbor's yard, where 28-year-old deputy Nguyen Tran shot and killed Griffith.
Victim's Name: Lenny Blane Griffith
Agency Responsible: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Race: White
Date of Death: August 1, 2019
County: Hillsborough
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: knife
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 4926
Geography: Suburban