By Tony Marrero
Source Tampa Bay Times
Tampa police fatally shot a suspect Sunday after a spate of violent events that left one pedestrian dead and three others injured.
Three police officers were also injured before officers shot the 47-year-man who police said was responsible for a series of escalating violence that began about 8:30 p.m. at a Dollar General store near MacDill Air Force Base.
In a news release and during a news conference by Chief Lee Bercaw, police gave this account:
The first call came in as a dispute at the Dollar General store at the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Interbay Boulevard. The suspect used his Honda to block the vehicle of a victim. After an argument, the suspect moved his vehicle and the victim left. But the suspect followed that victim to a home near the corner of West Meadow Street and South MacDill Avenue.
There, Bercaw said, “a disturbance occurred where they were throwing items at each other, and then the suspect reversed out, hitting the victim with the car twice.”
While that was happening, a friend of the victim fired a gun to stop the suspect, who then drove away. The victim hit by the car was injured and listed in stable condition.
Minutes later, the suspect was seen driving in circles at the intersection of Interbay Boulevard and MacDill Avenue and then hitting another pedestrian. That man died from his injuries.
“We believe that this act was intentional,” Bercaw said.
Heading north on MacDill Avenue, the suspect veered off the road toward another pedestrian, hitting and injuring him. A police officer arrived and tried to take the suspect into custody but he was able to get back into his car and drive away.
About 8:39 p.m., police received a call reporting that the suspect drove toward a group of pedestrians on the sidewalk and struck a man in his early 40s. He had serious head injuries.
About 10:15 p.m., police received a call that the suspect intentionally veered toward people and hit a man who was crossing the street at the intersection of Westshore Boulevard and Lemon Street. That man was alert and conscious and taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
“So in total, I have four people that were struck by this suspect, three with serious injuries and one that did not survive,” Bercaw said.
Officers pursued the suspect onto northbound Interstate 275 and used a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to stop the Honda.
The suspect was getting out of the car and reaching for what officers thought was a weapon, so they opened fire and shot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bercaw said three officers were injured while trying to take the suspect into custody. They were taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Police have not released the names of the suspect, the victims or the officers because investigators were still working to notify their families.
The suspect has an extensive history of violent offenses and was released from prison about two years ago, according to Bercaw.
Police blocked northbound traffic along Interstate 275 as well as all northbound entrance ramps between West Shore Boulevard and the downtown interchange during the investigation. The roadways have since reopened.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the man who was killed by the suspect tonight,” Bercaw said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is standard procedure for the Tampa Police Department. The officers who fired their weapon were placed on routine administrative leave while the investigation is underway.
“Every day our officers go out and put themselves in danger and tonight was just another example of their heroic efforts in ending this violent rampage of this suspect,” Bercaw said.
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