Persons Of Interest Identified In Attack On Sarasota Paramedics

SARASOTA, FL — At least two persons of interest have been identified by Sarasota police in connection with Monday's dangerous shooting incident targeting two paramedics with the Sarasota County Fire Department. Multiple shots struck the driver's side door of the ambulance after paramedics responded to a phony emergency call.

The paramedics were inside the ambulance at the time around 4 a.m. but neither were injured during the attack that occurred in the 2900 block Goodrich Avenue, according to Sarasota police.

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"Detectives have identified possible persons of interest," explained Genevieve Judge on Thursday afternoon. "No charges have been filed at this time."

Judge did not identify the persons of interest or say what led investigators to them.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation," said Judge. "Detectives are following credible leads to include witness interviews and phone data collection."

The deputy chief of the Sarasota Police Department told reporters immediately following the incident that the attack on first responders was being treated as an assault on his central Gulf Coast community.

"An assault on the fire department on first responders — nurses, teachers — this is an assault on our community, and we're not going to stand for that," Deputy Chief Pat Robinson told reporters.

The shots came from across the street. The shooter was believed to be male and wearing a hoodie. He escaped on foot.

Watch below as Deputy Chief Pat Robinson of the Sarasota Police Department discusses the attack on two paramedics shortly after the incident:

To report a tip, call Detective Adam Morningstar of the Sarasota Police Department at 941-364-7338 or call Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County at 941-366-TIPS.

Video and image courtesy Sarasota Police Department