RUSKIN, Fla. (CBS12) — A man is dead, and two Florida deputies were hospitalized after authorities said they were shot in the neck and face during an ambush Thursday morning.
“Our suspect ambushed our deputies from the moment they arrived on scene. He was intent on taking the life of a deputy,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a news conference.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began Wednesday night after a woman reported her ex-boyfriend held her hostage by zip-tying her legs, gagging her, holding her at gunpoint and threatening to kill her.
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The following morning, the woman woke up and realized she was no longer restrained. She told her ex-boyfriend she had an appointment she could not miss, and he agreed to let her leave. She then drove to an HCSO district office seeking help.
Deputies identified the suspect as Chris Machowski and located him at a residence on Shell Point Road in Ruskin. They used a drone to monitor his movements before moving in to make an arrest.
Chronister said that as deputies approached, Machowski walked to his van, opened the side door and began firing. One deputy was met with what the sheriff described as a barrage of gunfire while getting out of his patrol vehicle, with bullets striking the vehicle and hitting him in the face.
Machowski then opened fire on a second deputy, shooting him in the neck. Chronister said the deputy was never able to get out of his patrol vehicle. A third deputy returned fire, striking Machowski multiple times, according to the sheriff’s office.
Both deputies shot were medevaced by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital. Scene video shared by the sheriff’s office shows a helicopter flying the two deputies away.
Machowski was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Investigators later determined he had a prior felony conviction for tampering with physical evidence.
“Our suspect’s reign of terror ended today because of the training, the bravery and heroic actions of each of these deputies,” Chronister said.
The two injured deputies remained hospitalized Thursday at Tampa General Hospital. Chronister said both were speaking after the shooting and were grateful to be alive.