Detectives Investigate Deputy-Involved Shooting In Palm Harbor

PALM HARBOR, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives are investigating a deputy-involved shooting in an apartment complex near 2480 Cypress Pond Road, Palm Harbor, after a man shot at his neighbor with a flare gun during a neighbor dispute.

According to detectives, at about 9:23 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, deputies were called to the apartment complex for a report of a vandalized vehicle.

Deputy Joseph Wodraska responded and made contact with the complainant, 27-year-old Gia Tomossone. Tomossone told deputies that someone had broken out the windows of her Cadillac parked in the apartment complex lot behind her residence.

During the course of the investigation, Wodraska conducted a neighborhood canvas to see if any of the neighbors knew who damaged Tomossone's vehicle. He made contact with 39-year-old Joshua D'Anastasio who lived in the second floor apartment next door to Tomossone. D'Anastasio denied knowing anything about Tomossone's damaged vehicle.

Wodraska suggested Tomossone contact the Sheriff's Office if she received information on who may have damaged her vehicle.

At about 12:17 p.m., Wodraska was called back to Tomossone's residence after she and her boyfriend, 33 year-old Kevin King, witnessed D'Anastasio hiding an object in the Dumpster near their apartment.

Wodraska responded with a forensic science specialist to process potential evidence.

Detectives say Wodraska was speaking with Tomossone at the rear of her apartment near the parking lot when D'Anastasio came out onto his second floor rear balcony and began yelling at Wodraska. Wodraska ignored D'Anastasio and continued talking with Tomossone.

At the same time, Tomossone's boyfriend, Kevin King, was next door out on his second-floor rear balcony when D'Anastasio began yelling and threatening King.

D'Anastasio and King were arguing across the balconies when D'Anastasio told King he had something for him. D'Anastasio walked back into his apartment and returned to the balcony with his arm extended toward King holding what Wodraska believed to be a gun.

Detectives say Wodraska saw the muzzle flash and heard the gun go off toward King. Wodraska said he was in fear for the safety of King, Tomossone and himself when he returned fire at D'Anastasio, discharging multiple rounds from his department-issued handgun.

Wodraska's rounds missed D'Anastasio and shattered a sliding glass door behind D'Anastasio. As deputies were challenging D'Anastasio on his balcony, D'Anastasio's girlfriend, 42-year-old Gwen Stubbs, came out of the apartment bleeding.

Deputies took D'Anastasio into custody without incident and rendered medical aid to Stubbs.

Paramedics transported Stubbs to a local hospital for a gunshot wound to her left arm.

Detectives recovered the gun D'Anastasio discharged at King and determined it was a flare gun. Detectives also learned that Wodraska never saw Stubbs because she was inside D'Anastasio's apartment behind the sliding glass door at the time of the shooting.

Detectives say there were multiple witnesses to the incident including the forensic science specialist.

D'Anastasio was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

Wodraska has been placed on routine paid administrative leave.

Image via Shutterstock

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