Shooting suspect killed after firing on FHP trooper, Citrus County deputies

Law-enforcement officers shot and killed a shooting suspect who fired on a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and Citrus County deputies this morning.According to FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins, troopers were asked for help by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office at...

Shooting suspect killed after firing on FHP trooper, Citrus County deputies

Law-enforcement officers shot and killed a shooting suspect who fired on a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and Citrus County deputies this morning.

According to FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins, troopers were asked for help by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office at 9:35 a.m. as deputies pursued a shooting suspect on U.S. Highway 41 south of Floral Park Drive. Officials say the pursuit began after an incident in Marion County.

A trooper saw the suspect’s 2016 Chevrolet pickup traveling south on U.S. Highway 41 and moved to stop the suspect by using a “precision immobilization technique,” Gaskins said. After the trooper’s move, both vehicles came to a stop on the east shoulder of the road.

As both vehicles were stopped, the suspect fired on Citrus County deputies and the FHP trooper who stopped the suspect’s vehicle. Both the trooper and deputies returned fire, Gaskins said, and the suspect was killed at the scene.

Neither deputies or the trooper, a four-year FHP veteran, were injured.

As is typical in law-enforcement shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating. The Citrus County and Marion County sheriff’s offices also are investigating.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for more details.

 

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.