An early-morning shooting Sunday involving a Haines City police officer is under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopwood detailed the incident in a news conference Sunday afternoon.

According to Hopwood, the officers involved were conducting a traffic stop on a pickup truck with no tag and dark window tints at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the area of Avenue I and 12th Street N. in Haines City.

Hopwood says the suspect in the stopped vehicle suddenly backed up, nearly striking the patrol vehicle and an officer before accelerating forward at an officer standing in front of the pickup truck.

One officer then opened fire, hitting 24-year-old Louivens Ceus and killing him, Hopwood said.

The HCPD officers invol

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