One woman killed and another injured in deputy-involved shooting in Tampa.
A tragic incident in the Palm River-Clair Mel neighborhood of Tampa resulted in the death of a woman after she was shot by a sheriff’s deputy on Sunday morning. The situation unfolded as Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported burglary in progress at a residence located in the 7500 block of Carolton Circle.
Upon arrival, law enforcement learned that a woman, described by authorities as a grandmother, had allegedly shot her daughter in the hand. Concerned for the safety of all individuals involved, deputies quickly entered the home and managed to escort the injured daughter, who was displaying erratic behavior, to safety. However, the situation escalated when deputies attempted to secure the area.
Authorities reported that the grandmother had barricaded herself in a back room. According to Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer, attempts to persuade her to surrender her weapon were unsuccessful. As the woman brandished her firearm, Deputy Joshua Thomas, who has been with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for ten months and previously served with the Temple Terrace police for six years, discharged his weapon, fatally wounding the grandmother. This incident marks Deputy Thomas’s first engagement in using deadly force during his law enforcement career.
Two additional residents, characterized as a roommate and a grandchild, managed to exit the premises without injury. As investigations are currently underway regarding both the initial assault and the subsequent officer-involved shooting, authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those involved in the incident.
Chief Deputy Maurer characterized the situation as an instance of domestic violence and commended the deputies for their prompt and decisive actions that ultimately rescued three individuals from a perilous circumstance. He emphasized the critical nature of the officers’ intervention in what could have escalated into a more severe tragedy.
Authorities continue to conduct thorough investigations into the details surrounding the shooting incidents, seeking to understand the full context of the events that transpired on that fateful morning. Media News Source will provide updates as more information becomes available.
