The Brief
Troopers arrested a homicide suspect in Lee County after a St. Petersburg worker was shot to death Wednesday afternoon.
St. Petersburg police say a 47-year-old mother of four was shot multiple times from a front-loader cab during a domestic argument.
The wounded suspect remains hospitalized in police custody while state authorities investigate whether officers, deputies, or self-inflicted gunfire struck him.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A suspect is in custody following a highway standoff after a 47-year-old St. Petersburg city employee was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in what police believe was a targeted domestic attack.
St. Petersburg Police Investigation
What we know
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, a 47-year-old mother of four died after being shot several times around 12:35 p.m. Wednesday in the 4100 block of 12th Ave S. St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said investigators believe the shooting was targeted, domestic in nature and not a random act.
The victim had worked for the city for about 10 years. Holloway said an argument occurred before the shooter got into the cab of a front loader and opened fire.
Police said they believe the shooting was targeted and possibly domestic in nature.
Interstate 75 Standoff
Timeline
Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Florida Highway Patrol troopers located the suspect barricaded in a vehicle off I-75 southbound in Lee County. Shots were fired during the resulting standoff, and troopers were involved in the shooting.
The suspect was hit during the encounter and taken to Gulf Coast Hospital, where he remains in custody. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.
Grief counselors were arranged for city employees on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.
Florida Highway Patrol Findings
What we don’t know
Authorities have not confirmed whether the city employee was actively working when the gunfire erupted.
It remains unclear if the suspect was hit by a trooper’s bullet, a Lee County deputy’s bullet or if he shot himself. Officers have also not released the suspect’s name or the total number of shots fired during either incident.
The Source
The information in this story was gathered from St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, who provided details about the initial shooting, as well as statements from the Florida Highway Patrol regarding the standoff and arrest.