Video: Woman Waves Gun at Fla. Police Officer Before Ramming Cruisers

By Tony Marrero

Source Tampa Bay Times

Pinellas sheriff’s deputies shot and critically wounded a woman who fled from a traffic stop, waved a gun at law enforcement officers and rammed vehicles with her car early Tuesday, authorities said.

Marina DeFilippo, 65, was hospitalized in critical condition after deputies shot her several times in Indian Shores, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said during a news conference later Tuesday. Holloway’s department is investigating the shooting as part of an agreement among member agencies of the Pinellas County’s Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force.

A deputy stopped DeFilippo’s Toyota hatchback about 1:30 a.m. after she ran a red light at the intersection of 113th Street North and Park Boulevard, according to details released by Holloway and included in a news release later Tuesday.

DeFilippo told the deputy that the CIA was after her and drove off, heading west toward the beaches, Holloway said. Deputies deployed stop sticks to flatten DeFilippo’s tires, but she continued driving on flat tires and made it to Gulf Boulevard and turned north.

An Indian Shores police officer stopped DeFilippo and she pointed a gun at him, rammed his vehicle and continued north on Gulf Boulevard, Holloway said.

Near the area of 20254 Gulf Boulevard, the sheriff’s office used an armored vehicle to stop DeFilippo’s car. Deputies then fired less-lethal beanbag and pepper ball rounds at DeFilippo.

“They were talking to her, trying to get her out the car — she’s still waving the weapon around,” Holloway said. “She then tried to get away again, ramming several vehicles, and that’s when the deputies used their weapons.”

Seven deputies opened fire during the incident, and DeFilippo was hit several times. She was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. Holloway said she is expected to survive and will face charges including aggravated battery, aggravated assault and fleeing to elude law enforcement, Holloway said.

A deputy was also treated for minor injuries.

The deputies who fired their weapons were placed on routine administrative leave while the investigation is underway. They are: Lt. Thomas Montgomery, K-9 Corporal Justin Fineberg, Corporal Brian Hirshman, Corporal Tyler Reidy, Deputy Melanie Leib, Deputy Kyle Kilian and Deputy Alberto Ortiz.

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