2 Dead, 3 Officers Injured During 'Violent Night' In Tampa: Cops

TAMPA, FL — Two men are dead and three Tampa police officers are injured after four people were hit by a car before a police chase and a subsequent police shooting, authorities said.

Tampa Police on Monday accused a 48-year-old man of hitting several people on Sunday before engaging in a chase with officers.

Officers responded around 8:30 p.m. Sunday to the series of "escalating incidents," police said. The driver was not identified.

"This was a violent night," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said at an early morning news conference.

The suspect was first accused of purposely blocking a white Honda at a business near Dale Mabry Highway and Interbay Boulevard. Police said he moved his car after an argument, and the victim left the scene.

The driver then followed the victim to a friend's home near West Meadow Street and South MacDill Avenue and hit the person with his car, authorities said. Police said the friend shot at the suspect, and the suspect went northbound.

The victim, who suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene by Tampa Fire Rescue, police said.

While driving north on MacDill near Interbay, the suspect suddenly veered toward a male pedestrian and hit him, police said. The pedestrian suffered serious head injuries and was taken to a hospital, police said, adding the pedestrian was in critical but stable condition.

Police said minutes later, a caller told authorities the suspect intentionally hit another male pedestrian in the 5800 block of Interbay. The victim died from his injuries.

Around 10:15 p.m., another person reported the suspect again purposely struck another man who was crossing the street near West Shore Boulevard and Lemon Street, police said.

The victim, who was alert and conscious, was taken to a hospital for evaluation, police said.

Sometime later, Tampa officers chased the suspect as he entered north on Interstate 275, police said. Officers then performed a PIT maneuver, ordering the suspect to get out of the car and show his hands, police said.

Officers "believed their lives were in imminent danger" after appearing to see the man "reach for something" and shot at the suspect, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Three officers suffered unknown injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to a hospital, police said. They were put on administrative leave, per standard procedure, police said.

"Our thoughts are with the families of all those impacted by this tragic series of events," Bercaw said in a news release. "This individual, who already had a violent history, displayed a blatant disregard for human life, resulting in this devastating outcome."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is overseeing the probe in the case.