11 Victims, 2 Dead in Alleged Crime Spree

The prime suspect in a hit-and-run that injured four adults and a teenage boy today in Lealman is being questioned in connection to a pair of violent crimes this morning: an assualt at a motel and a stabbing that killed two adults and injured two others.

Anthony Giancola of St. Petersburg is in custody tonight as detectives investigate the incidents that injured nine people, killing two. Giancola is a former Tampa school principal who was fired from his job five years ago. He has an extensive criminal record involving illegal drugs.

Here is today's timeline of events:

• At 10:48 a.m. Friday, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office received a call about a stabbing at a group home for the hearing-impaired, at 5100 35th Way North. A male victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Three other people were transported to local hospital. A female victim was pronounced dead the hospital.
• Witnesses to the stabbing incident provided a description of the suspect to police. The suspect is later identified as Anthony Giancola. A knife was recovered at the scene.
• Investigators allege that Giancola left the group home and drove to Kenvin's Motel, at 6801 Haines Road, in Pinellas Park, where two people were assaulted. The victims, a male and a female, have been transported to a local hospital. The injuries of the male appear to be life threatening. Pinellas Park Police handled this incident.
• Giancola is then believed to have proceeded to 5705-B 58th Avenue North, where he briefly spoke to people standing outside the duplex. He then abruptly left and then returned. He plowed his vehicle collided into three adult females and one adult male who were on a front porch. The three females were transported to a local hospital, and the male refused transport.
• The suspect then proceeded west on 58th Avenue, where he struck a 13-year-old boy. The child sustained minor injuries. The driver then fled to the Egg Platter located at Haines and US 19, where he abandoned his vehicle and entered another vehicle and fled. This incident was handled by Florida Highway Patrol.
• Giancola was later tracked by the Sheriff's K-9 Unit in the area of 56 Ave N and 66th Lane North. Giancola continues to be interviewed at this time.

Follow Patch for updates.

Earlier post: Hit-and-Run Driver Strikes Five People