WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper is recovering from being shot by a suspect believed to be in a stolen vehicle, according to FHP officials.
The scene along Overpass Road between I-75 North and Old Pasco Road had been blocked off for hours, but has since re-opened.
#NOW At the scene of a Florida Highway Patrol Officer-involved shooting on Overpass Road just east of Old Pasco Rd. Pasco Sheriff’s Office and their forensic unit are on scene. Waiting to hear more details on what happened. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/tPJmfOGyfm
— Fadia Mayté Patterson, M.S. (@FadiaTVNews) February 4, 2023
Several agencies are working the officer-involved shooting, including the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, their forensic unit and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Crash reconstructionists went to the scene of the incident and surrounded a grey pick-up truck that appears to have crashed into a wall.
FHP officials said the two suspects were allegedly attempting to steal a second truck or items within the vehicle. The men then fled northbound on I-75 in their pickup truck with the trooper in-pursuit. As the pursuit continued, the men discharged a firearm several times from their vehicle, striking a tanker truck also traveling northbound. Upon reaching SR-50, the men reversed course and began traveling southbound on I-75, where two additional troopers joined the pursuit. As the men reached Overpass Road, they exited the Interstate and a trooper successfully performed a PIT maneuver, which terminated the pursuit.
The two men then fled on foot towards a wooded area south of Overpass Road, where one man surrendered to a trooper, while the other man produced a handgun, officials said. Shots were exchanged between the second trooper and the suspect. The Trooper was struck in the torso, while the suspect was struck and suffered fatal injuries at the scene. The trooper was airlifted to an area hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Agents from FDLE, along with members of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Crime Unit are currently investigating the incident.
The second suspect, identified by FHP as 38-year-old Yoandy Perez of Hileah, was also taken to an area hospital for medical care. Perez is facing a $685,000 bail for multiple felony charges including grand theft, feeling & eluding and felony murder.
The names of the trooper involved and the deceased have yet to be released.
