A Florida man has been cleared of charges after authorities determined he acted in self-defense when he shot a felon who allegedly tried to kidnap his wife.
Fox News affiliate WTVT-TV, referencing information from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, reported that on New Year’s Day, 36-year-old Nicholas Palomo, a felon with a history of kidnapping and other offenses, attempted to abduct a woman walking her dog in Bradenton, Florida.
The woman managed to escape from Palomo’s vehicle and quickly alerted her husband, who then went outside to confront Palomo.
According to detectives, Palomo began behaving in a menacing manner and advanced towards the husband, prompting him to allegedly fire his weapon at Palomo.
An image of Nicholas Palomo from a 2023 booking shows him, with police stating he had earlier caused a disturbance at a nearby Circle K and appeared to be under the influence of drugs before approaching the woman. (Manatee County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies responded to the shooting scene at 12:27 a.m., discovering Palomo, who had succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the chest despite emergency life-saving measures. An autopsy confirmed his death at the location.
Before the alleged abduction, Palomo reportedly caused a disturbance at a nearby Circle K while appearing to be under the influence of drugs.
The State Attorney’s Office determined the homeowner acted in self-defense when confronting Nicholas Palomo on New Year’s Day. (WTVT-TV)
According to the outlet, after reviewing the case, the State Attorney’s Office determined that the homeowner’s actions were justified.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Department ruled that the homeowner’s action were justified. (Manatee County Sheriff’s Office)
The names of the husband and the wife were not released in accordance with Marsy’s Law. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
