The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that happened early Sunday morning on the 7500 block of Carlton Circle in Tampa. The incident was the result of a convoluted personal dispute involving a grandmother, her daughter, a granddaughter, and a roommate.
During a press conference on Sunday morning, Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer offered a full sequence of events. “Before I get started on the timeline, this was a very complicated call for service, a complicated scene,” Maurer explained, naming the people involved: the grandma (suspect), the daughter (victim), a granddaughter, and a roommate.
At 4:41 a.m., the HCSO received a call stating that a burglary was taking place at the residence. Several deputies responded to the site. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the suspect, the grandmother, had shot her daughter in the hand.
As deputies began to make contact and summon people out of the house, the roommate exited with the child, both of whom were safely apprehended by deputies.
Deputies then entered the front entrance and issued several commands for everyone to exit. Deputies established two distinct teams. One crew successfully recovered the victim, the daughter, who suffered a gunshot wound to her hand. According to Chief Deputy Maurer, the victim appeared to be under the influence of something, being described as “very lethargic and unable to keep her balance,” possibly due to something the suspect had requested that she drink.
The second squad cleared the rest of the premises, locating the suspect barricaded in a locked back room. Deputies approached the closed room and made numerous requests for the suspect to unlock the door and identify herself.
When deputies broke through the door, they discovered the grandma armed with a handgun in her right hand. Deputies issued many demands to lower the rifle. “She raises the firearm, and our deputy fires and neutralizes the threat,” Chief Deputy Maurer stated.
This occurred at about 5:05 a.m.
The deputy engaged in the incident had six years of experience with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, including previous service with the Temple Terrace Police Department. He has no prior use of lethal force.
Maurer relayed Sheriff Chad Chronister’s emphasis on violent crime as the agency’s top concern, focusing on the domestic violence aspect of this occurrence.
“Domestic abuse is a monster in every home.” We cannot police in your homes if you have domestic violence issues or require support and assistance,” Maurer emphasized.
He recommended anyone experiencing domestic violence to contact The Spring of Tampa Bay or the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for help. He also emphasized the significance of mental health support, referring people suffering from mental illness to the Crisis Center of Tampa.
Maurer praised the deputies on the scene for their “outstanding job,” stating that they effectively saved three persons from a violent situation.
This story will be updated as more information is provided.
