Pinellas Park Police Investigate Multiple Shootings

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Pinellas Park Police are investigating multiple shootings that took place Wednesday and Thursday.

Around 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, police were called to a home in the 4200 block of 80th Avenue and found a man who'd been shot in the lower abdomen.

Sean Michael Elsner, 27, of 57th Street North in St. Petersburg, was transported to Bayfront Health for treatment where he remains in critical condition.

His girlfriend, Brooke Anne Otto, 26, who lives in the home, was arrested and charged with one count of domestic aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of violation of probation for aggravated stalking.

Detectives say Elsner and Otto were in an on-again, off-again relationship for the past six months.

On New Year's Eve, Elsner spent the night at Otto's home. They woke around 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 and got into an argument.

Otto was attempting to get Elsner to leave her house and called a friend for help.

In the meantime, Elsner called an Uber to pick him up and was waiting on the front porch. Pinellas Park Police said Otto retrieved a handgun and followed Elsner onto the front porch where they continued arguing.

According to police, Elsner slapped Otto in the face and knocked the phone from her hand. When Elsner bent over to pick up the phone, Otto shot Elsner once in the lower abdomen.

Police say alcohol appears to be a factor in Elsner's actions.

Detectives are also trying to piece together the circumstances behind a shooting early Thursday morning.

Around 6 a.m. Jan. 2, police were called to a home in the 5900 block of 66th Terrace in Pinellas Park where two men had been shot.

According to police, a group of men arrived at the home of Riley James, 24, in one vehicle where they got into a physical confrontation with James in the front yard. While James continued to fight with four of the men, two others entered the home where they confronted and shot Brandon Heric, 23, of St. Petersburg, and Devon Thompson, 21, of Pinellas Park.

All the men then fled in the vehicle they came in.

Thompson was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for three gunshot wounds. He is in stable condition at this time.

Heric drove himself to a local hospital where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Police believe the shooters targeted the men.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-973-TIPS or the Pinellas Park Police Department at 727-369-7840.