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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- An armed suspect was shot and killed and a deputy injured at the St. Petersburg Judicial Center Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect was wearing a backpack as he approached the metal detector at the courthouse security checkpoint, according to Pinellas Sheriff's spokesman Jim Bordner.
A deputy stationed at the checkpoint instructed the man to remove his backpack and place it on the conveyer belt before entering the metal detector.
The man then threw the backpack on the ground, drew a semi-automatic handgun, and began firing at the two deputies.
One deputy was struck in the shoulder by the gunfire. Both deputies returned fire, killing the suspect.
The deputy's shoulder wound is not life-threatening.
Both he and the suspect were taken to Bayfront Medical Center. No civilians were injured.
Bordner says the suspect had one extra magazine for his gun.
He said the injured deputy had "quite a bit of luck" as he was only slightly injured in the incident.
No names have been released and there's no word on the gunman's motive.
The Judicial Center is located at 544 1st Avenue North. The courthouse is closed, as is a nearby court building. All courthouse employees were sent home for the day.
A K-9 unit is being brought in to examine the suspect's backpack.
Asked if security procedures at the courthouse worked properly, Bordner said, "I'd say this was a success, but not a perfect success, because the suspect did not survive."
Republished with permission of WFTS-TV.
