TAMPA, Fla. – A suspect was shot to death after Tampa police say he hit several people with a car before leading officers on a chase on I-275.
Just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to a call at the intersection of Meadow and MacDill Avenue. A caller reported that a suspect’s car was blocking access to a Dollar General store, leading to an argument.
During a news conference Monday morning, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said the victim left the scene, but the suspect followed him home, where a disturbance ensued. During the altercation, the suspect hit the victim with his car twice. Meanwhile, a friend of the victim fired shots at the suspect. The suspect then drove erratically in the area, striking and killing an adult male pedestrian before fleeing.
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The suspect, driving a white Honda, then veered off the road and hit another pedestrian, who survived. Police arrived at the scene as the suspect fled. Minutes later, in South Tampa, another pedestrian was struck, suffering serious head injuries, police say.
By 10:16 p.m., the suspect had intentionally hit another person, bringing the total to four people struck — three with serious injuries and one fatality.
According to Bercaw, officers pursued the suspect onto I-275, where they used a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. The suspect exited the car, and police, believing he was reaching for a gun, fired shots, resulting in the suspect’s death. Three Tampa police officers were injured during the apprehension, though their injuries were not life-threatening.
“This was a violent night. We have four citizens that were hit by the suspect in the car. One of them did not survive, and three of my officers were injured during the apprehension of this suspect,” said Chief Bercaw.
Bercaw said the suspect was identified as a 47-year-old man with an extensive criminal history, who had been released from prison two years prior.
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