A Pensacola man charged with attempting to murder two Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies could be released from the Florida State Hospital.
Daniel Hux lured ECSO deputies to his Limerick Lane home in 2019 under the guise of being suicidal and unarmed, and when deputies Douglas Shoemaker and Melissa Lee approached his home, Hux opened fire.
In February 2023, Circuit Judge Coleman Robinson found Hux not guilty by insanity on both counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and since then Hux has been housed in the Florida State Hospital with regular six-month checkups with the presiding judge in his case.
Robinson said in court he made his decision after two doctors found Daniel Jeremy Hux had “a mental infirmity” and could not understand what he was doing when he shot Shoemaker and shot at Lee at his Limerick Lane home on Dec. 11, 2019.
Supervising Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told the News Journal that all information in filings regarding Hux’s time at the hospital are confidential, but according to court records, a recommended conditional release plan was filed in Hux’s case July 21 ahead of his July 29 court appearance.
Circuit Judge Amy Brodersen is scheduled to hear from the state, Hux’s attorney James Barnes and representatives from the Florida State Hospital to determine if Hux meets the criteria to remain in the hospital’s care.
Daniel Hux shoots ECSO Deputy Shoemaker
Shoemaker and Lee responded to Hux’s address in the 400 block of Limerick Lane on Dec. 11, 2019, after Hux called Escambia County Emergency Dispatch and said someone was trying to kidnap his son from Pensacola Christian Academy.
After being transferred to the ECSO’s dispatch, he said he “needed to go to the hospital and get medicated” and said he needed an ambulance because he was feeling suicidal, according to his arrest report. He also told dispatch he “was not feeling violent and did not have any weapons.”
When Shoemaker and Lee arrived to Hux’s residence, Shoemaker knocked on the front door while Lee walked toward the back of the home. Shoemaker then walked to the carport area where Hux was standing with a handgun and began firing at Shoemaker, the report says.
“Shoemaker, who was wearing his Sheriff’s Office uniform with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office emblems, drew his duty weapon and returned fire,” Hux’s arrest report says. “Shoemaker was hit multiple times after retreating to the driveway area of the residence.”
Lee then “immediately responded” to Shoemaker’s location and began returning fire toward Hux before he retreated to the home. Hux then allegedly began firing at both deputies as Lee was providing aid to Shoemaker.
After more deputies responded to the scene, Hux surrendered and was taken into custody.
Ultimately, Shoemaker was struck four times, and Hux was shot twice.
Shoemaker and Lee’s shots deemed justified by State Attorney
After the shooting, Shoemaker was released from the hospital the next day on Dec. 12, 2019.
The now-retired Assistant State Attorney John Molchan conducted a review of the officer-involved shooting and announced his finding in March 2020.
“Deputy Shoemaker, after securing cover, began to return fire at the assailant who was positioned in the carport doorway,” according to Molchan’s review. “He continued firing until he saw Hux go down.”
The State Attorney’s Office did not levy any charges against Lee or Shoemaker.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Man found not guilty by insanity in attempted murder of ECSO deputies could be released
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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