FORT MYERS — State troopers captured a man wanted in connection with a St. Petersburg homicide Wednesday after he barricaded himself in a vehicle on Interstate 75 near Fort Myers, reports show.
I-75 was shut down in both directions in Lee County while the situation played out.
Law enforcement agencies around the region received a be-on-the-lookout advisory at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday reports show.
A man was “believed to be suicidal and involved in a homicide in St. Petersburg,” the FHP reported.
The FHP did not identify the man in the report.
The St. Petersburg Police Department issued a statement saying the shooting happened at noon in a city neighborhood.
A man is suspected of shooting a 47-year-old woman, employed as a St. Petersburg sanitation technician.
“She was shot and killed while sitting inside her front-loader work vehicle. She leaves behind four children. The victim and the suspect were known to each other, and this was a targeted attack,” the SPD stated.
Troopers spotted the man in Lee County tried to pull him over, but the suspect fled, reports show.
Troopers used a precision immobilization technique maneuver on the interstate near Alico Road at Exit 128.
But the man still refused to comply with officers and barricaded himself inside his vehicle, the report states.
Troopers and Lee County deputies talked with the suspect, and he was eventually taken into custody.
The man was hospitalized with serious injuries, the report states.
No law enforcement was injured on scene.
Dave Kerner, executive director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which oversees the FHP, commented on the case.
“State Troopers and law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect the people of this great state. As this is an active criminal investigation, we will have no further comment, except to say how thankful I am for the heroism State Troopers display each and every day, including this very challenging and dangerous incident today. The entire Florida Highway Patrol is deeply thankful for the heroism and support Lee County Deputies provided in responding, as well,” Kerner stated.