EUSTIS, Fla. -- A Eustis Police officer has been hospitalized after being shot in the leg Wednesday afternoon.

  • Eustis officer shot in leg after exchange of gunfire w/ suspect
  • Shooting happened at AutoZone store
  • Suspect is dead; officer is in stable condition

The shooting happened at an AutoZone store on Bay Street. Police say employees saw a man -- later identified as Dillan Shane Ezell, who is in his early 20s -- walk into the store with appeared to be a gun.

Employees called 911 and got out safely. Police also surrounded the building.

Officer Jim Franquiz of the Eustis Police Department explained, “The suspect exited the front of the store. He did a cross across his chest. He did have a weapon in his hand. I don’t know what was said or who fired the first shot or what exchange took place. I do know he was shot at the front of the store.”

Amid the gunfire, a police officer was struck in the leg.

The officer is in stable condition, Eustis Police confirm. His name is Sgt. Kenneth Toler. Authorities say he's been with Eustis Police for about 10 years.

Police confirmed Ezell later died.

His uncle, Jeffrey Ezell said his family was in the process of getting Dillan help for depression.

“I have so much good that I can say about Dillan prior to this happening than I can bad, other than he was probably depressed about his weight and trying to get a job,” he said.

Jeffrey said they do not keep weapons in the house and believes Dillan had a BB gun when he was shot.

“This gun, BB gun looked like a real gun. You know it wasn’t like a toy gun you buy for 10 dollars at Walmart, and he knew this. and I think he used it ... he left a note on his computer, kind of like a suicide note,” Jeffrey said.

Police did not confirm whether Ezell was holding a handgun or a BB gun, or if the officer was injured by Dillan or another officer’s weapon.

In addition to Eustis Police, the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were at the scene.

The officer's shooting comes just days after Orlando Police Ofc. Kevin Valencia was shot and critically wounded during a nearly 21-hour standoff in which four children were found shot dead.

Anchor/Reporter Cheryn Stone contributed to this story.