Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer
TAMPA, Fla. — A motorist on a “violent rampage” was killed by police after he struck pedestrians at four different locations in Tampa, Florida, investigators say.
One victim died and the three others have serious injuries, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said during a news conference.
Three police officers were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, he said.
The identity of the “extremely dangerous suspect” and his motive have not been released.
Investigators say the 911 calls began coming around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, after a driver used his Honda “to intentionally block” another car outside a store, then followed the victim home.
“A disturbance occurred where they were throwing items at each other and then the suspect reversed out, hitting the victim with the car, twice. Fortunately, that victim was in stable condition,” Bercaw said.
“While this was happening, a friend of the victim was firing at the suspect in an attempt to stop this violent act.”
At 8:33 p.m., a white Honda believed to be the same car was seen “driving in circles” at the intersection of MacDill Avenue and Interbay Boulevard in South Tampa “before striking and killing an adult male pedestrian.”
“We believe that this act was intentional,” Bercaw said.
The car then struck and seriously injured another adult male in the 5800 block of Interbay Boulevard , he said.
At 8:39 p.m., a group of people reported seeing the car “moving toward pedestrians on the sidewalk and actually strike another one,” Bercaw said. That victim, a man in his early 40s, suffered serious head injuries, but will survive, Bercaw said.
At 10:16 p.m., the department received another report that the vehicle “had again intentionally veered into people at the scene and another person was struck” at the intersection of West Shore Boulevard and Lemon Street, Bercaw said.
A police pursuit began on Lemon Street and moved to Interstate 275 . The chase ended when a patrol car struck and immobilized the suspect’s vehicle on I-275, officials said.
The man was shot and killed when he got out of the car and was seen “reaching for what (officers) believed was a weapon,” Bercaw said.
Details of how three officers were injured during the confrontation have not been released.
Investigators say the 47-year-old suspect has “an extensive violent criminal history” and was released from prison two years ago, Bercaw said.
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