Search fatalities

Alexander King was carrying a pellet gun, which he allegedly pointed at officers. Police stated the pellet gun resembled a rifle, with only a faded orange tip that was not visible from a distance at night. The names of the two officers who shot King, along with five others present who did not fire, are being withheld under Marsy's Law.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/breaking-news/2021/11/08/tarpon-springs-police-officers-cleared-in-fatal-shooting-of-teen-state-attorney-says/

On 10/14/2021, Crestview police officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of Hospital Drive after a neighbor reported hearing calls for help. Officers encountered Calvin Wilks Jr. inside the residence and attempted to have him step outside. When that did not occur, officers attempted to detain him. During the encounter, officers deployed a Taser and physically restrained Wilks. Wilks later became unresponsive and died. A medical examiner later cited restraint and Taser use as contributing factors. One Crestview police officer was charged with manslaughter in connection with Wilks’s death. The charge was later dismissed. Wilks’s family filed a civil lawsuit related to the incident.

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/12/crestview-police-officer-charged-manslaughter-death-calvin-wilks/
https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2022/08/12/crestview-police-officer-charged-manslaughter-calvin-wilks-death/
https://www.weartv.com/news/local/charges-dismissed-against-crestview-police-officer-in-calvin-wilks-jr-death
https://www.wjhg.com/2022/08/12/crestview-police-officer-charged-with-manslaughter/

A trooper pulled his marked cruiser into the path of a motorcyclist on I-4 around 7:30 p.m. The motorcyclist crashed into the front right side of the cruiser and was ejected from his bike. After falling into the road, the motorcyclist was struck by a semi-truck and killed.

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/motorcyclist-killed-after-crash-with-fhp-cruiser-semi-on-i-4

Tom Sharkey was wanted for questioning regarding the murder of his wife, 26-year-old Alexis Sharkey. He was found shot in the head inside his daughter's Fort Myers home. At approximately 10 p.m., police initially spoke with Sharkey, but he ran upstairs and shot and killed himself.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/husband-wanted-instagram-influencer-murder-174540552.html

Chad Jenkins allegedly abused his ex-girlfriend and her son at a home before returning to his residence. Two Pinellas County deputies were dispatched to arrest him for domestic violence and child abuse. As deputies approached his house, Jenkins left his home and got into his car. Deputies asked him to step out, but he refused. Observing that he had a gun and refused to put it down despite orders, Deputies Casey Hunter and DerricGandee-Lunsford shot into the car, killing Jenkins.

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/st-pete-deadly-shooting/67-73c01620-71e7-4d6b-8224-36f36a30900e

Following a police chase, a deputy knocked Barry Heckard's vehicle off the road. Heckard allegedly shot at deputies before they shot and killed him.

https://www.alligator.org/article/2021/09/gainesville-man-dies-in-newberry-shootout-with-alachua-county-sheriff-deputies

On 09/12/2021, Fort Walton Beach police responded to an incident on Lloyd Street where officers encountered an unidentified man during an active call for service. During the encounter officers opened fire, killing him at the scene. Authorities released limited identifying details and confirmed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began an investigation. Public reporting centered on the police response and scene details, with no extensive personal background on the man released.

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2021/09/13/fdle-investigates-police-shooting-fort-walton-beach/
https://weartv.com/news/local/fdle-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-fort-walton-beach
https://www.wjhg.com/2021/09/13/man-killed-in-fort-walton-beach-police-shooting/

After allegedly taking two people, including his ex-girlfriend, hostage, Josue Arias was shot and killed by police because he was armed and uncooperative.

https://www.fox13news.com/news/shots-fired-reported-in-clearwater-neighborhood-deputies-say

Around 4:30 p.m., a deputy stopped a car on Kingsland Court in Fruit Cove. When the deputy approached the car, which was parked in a driveway, the man driving fired one shot. The deputy then fired one shot. The deputy was not hurt, and the man was killed. Police later stated that Joshua Thornton shot and killed himself, and the deputy's bullet only caused a flesh wound.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/st-johns-county/deputy-involved-shooting-fruit-cove-source-says/4KEAY43SWJCDRBEQKBHTPV275Y/ 

A South Miami Police officer spotted a white Range Rover traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on the Palmetto Expressway. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it continued westbound on Sunset Drive after exiting. The Range Rover collided with a grey Kia at Southwest 92nd Avenue, killing the male adult driver and two female adult passengers: Karina Diaz, 49, Adalberto Hernandez Cereijo, 51, and Elena Chacon Diaz, 75.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 3 fatalities

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/three-killed-one-hospitalized-crash/ 

A South Miami Police officer spotted a white Range Rover traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on the Palmetto Expressway. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it continued westbound on Sunset Drive after exiting. The Range Rover collided with a grey Kia at Southwest 92nd Avenue, killing the male adult driver and two female adult passengers: Karina Diaz, 49, Adalberto Hernandez Cereijo, 51, and Elena Chacon Diaz, 75.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 3 fatalities

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/three-killed-one-hospitalized-crash/

On 08/31/2021, police escalated a high speed chase in South Florida. During the pursuit the fleeing vehicle crashed and three bystanders were killed at the scene.

https://www.wfla.com/news/high-speed-chase-kills-three-in-south-florida/

On August 30, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Brevard County Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop near Interstate 95 and State Road 192 in West Melbourne, Florida. The vehicle had three adult occupants and a 2-month-old infant. During the stop, deputies asked passenger Paris Wilder to exit the vehicle. Wilder immediately opened the door armed with a rifle and began shooting at the deputies. Deputies opened fire, resulting in Wilder's death. One deputy was shot in the lower leg and sustained a non-life-threatening injury. The injured deputy was also attacked by Wilder with multiple strikes to the head with the butt of the rifle. As the attack on the injured deputy continued, the original deputy was able to end the threat by using deadly force and shooting Wilder.

https://www.brevardsheriff.com/home/nr-21-43-investigative-update-deputy-involved-shooting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M83pA-xzOM8
 

Officers responded to a disturbance call at 68 NW 95 Street in Miami Shores, Florida. Upon arrival, they found EtiannaPlanellas outside. Planellas pointed an apparent weapon toward an officer, prompting the officer to shoot and kill her. It was later determined that Planellas had a BB gun.

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/08/30/authorities-investigating-deadly-police-involved-shooting-in-miami-shores/ 

At approximately 8:24 p.m., two police officers from the Coconut Creek Police Department shot and killed Brittni Muldrew after stopping her in a white Mercedes that had reportedly been stolen. Muldrew allegedly reversed the car in the direction of the officers, prompting them to open fire.

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/08/31/police-2-suspects-taken-into-custody-following-officer-involved-shooting-in-coconut-creek/ 

Police received a 911 call reporting that a woman needed help because she was being hurt. Deputies from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office responded, but the woman had already left the scene. Deputies knocked on the door of a home on Riverview Avenue, where Samuel Kirk emerged into the carport, pointing a gun at deputies and firing a shot. One deputy took cover while she and another deputy fired approximately 15 shots, striking Kirk five times and killing him.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/08/26/seminole-county-sheriffs-deputy-involved-in-shooting/#//

On 08/20/2021 Krista Richter was driving with her husband when an off duty detention deputy from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office drove his personal vehicle at 109 miles per hour and struck the left side of her car at North Dale Mabry Highway and Sligh Avenue. Richter died at the scene and her husband suffered serious injuries. Prosecutors later charged the deputy with vehicular homicide and reckless driving for causing the crash.

https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/hillsborough-county-detention-deputy-on-trial-in-deadly-crash-that-killed-woman-injured-husband
https://www.fox13news.com/news/former-detention-deputy-found-guilty-in-crash-that-killed-tampa-woman
https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-detention-deputy-trial-deadly-crash-killed-woman-injured-husband

A crisis hotline operator contacted police after William Guy Sellers called for help. Following a short standoff, police shot and killed Sellers, who was armed with a pistol.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/08/12/orlando-police-officer-fires-shots-at-man-in-his-70s-officials-say/ 

Around midnight, an officer from the Clearwater Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop of a 2002 Suzuki sport utility vehicle driven by Pedro Castro, 36, of Tampa. Castro made a U-turn on Court Street, and the officer reportedly did not pursue. The SUV continued west on Chestnut Street, driving against one-way traffic. In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle, Castro swerved and crashed into a nearby building. The passenger of the SUV, Sasha Marie Hudtwalcker-Grey, was killed in the crash.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2021/08/11/woman-killed-after-driver-flees-traffic-stop-crashes-into-building-in-clearwater-police-say/

On 08/11/2021, North Port Police attempted to stop a vehicle during a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop and officers escalated a pursuit through the city. The vehicle crashed and a passenger was killed at the scene.

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2021/08/11/passenger-dies-when-driver-flees-florida-traffic-stop/

A deputy from the Nassau County Sheriff's Office was called to a home around 1:30 p.m. following reports that a man had been threatening to harm himself. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with the man through a small window of a side door. The man became agitated, burst through the door holding a large butcher knife in each hand, and allegedly lunged at the deputy, who shot and killed him.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/31/officer-involved-shooting-reported-in-yulee/

Christopher Garrett, 17, was driving a Nissan Rogue SUV on July 30 when he ran a red light at over 100 mph while being pursued by police. He collided with a vehicle that was turning left. His passengers, Jay'Oni Leonard, 14, and Alexia Simpson, 17, were killed, along with Elizabeth Anderson, 62, and George Nienhouse, 65, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. Garrett was charged as an adult with four counts of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 4 fatalities

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/teen-charged-speeding-crash-killed-4/67-79b998ee-173e-4255-905f-73e6fa879fb0

Christopher Garrett, 17, was driving a Nissan Rogue SUV on July 30 when he ran a red light at over 100 mph while being pursued by police. He collided with a vehicle that was turning left. His passengers, Jay'Oni Leonard, 14, and Alexia Simpson, 17, were killed, along with Elizabeth Anderson, 62, and George Nienhouse, 65, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. Garrett was charged as an adult with four counts of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 4 fatalities

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/teen-charged-speeding-crash-killed-4/67-79b998ee-173e-4255-905f-73e6fa879fb0

Christopher Garrett, 17, was driving a Nissan Rogue SUV on July 30 when he ran a red light at over 100 mph while being pursued by police. He collided with a vehicle that was turning left. His passengers, Jay'Oni Leonard, 14, and Alexia Simpson, 17, were killed, along with Elizabeth Anderson, 62, and George John Nienhouse Jr., 65, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. Garrett was charged as an adult with four counts of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 4 fatalities

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/teen-charged-speeding-crash-killed-4/67-79b998ee-173e-4255-905f-73e6fa879fb0

Christopher Garrett, 17, was driving a Nissan Rogue SUV on July 30 when he ran a red light at over 100 mph while being pursued by police. He collided with a vehicle that was turning left. His passengers, Jay'Oni Leonard, 14, and Alexia Simpson, 17, were killed, along with Elizabeth Anderson, 62, and George John Nienhouse Jr., 65, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. Garrett was charged as an adult with four counts of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 4 fatalities

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/teen-charged-speeding-crash-killed-4/67-79b998ee-173e-4255-905f-73e6fa879fb0

A deputy from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office attempted to pull over a driver for unspecified reasons. The driver continued driving, and the deputy pursued until the driver crashed and was ejected from the vehicle. The driver was killed, and a passenger sustained injuries.

https://www.lakecityreporter.com/local/one-killed-late-night-chase 

Marcus "Money Mitch" Pettis allegedly continued driving after a drug-related traffic stop and fired at officers. He was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound a short distance from the scene.

https://www.wpbf.com/article/pbso-man-committed-suicide-after-shooting-at-deputies/37118025

Deputy Gregory Streeter from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic incident around 10:30 p.m. involving Gilberto Martinez-Nava, 37, and his ex-wife. Martinez-Nava allegedly was choking his ex-wife during an argument and grabbed a knife when family members intervened. Dispatch reported that Martinez-Nava was agitated, suicidal, and a danger to his family. Streeter arrived at the home at 10:35 p.m., where he was greeted at the door by an older woman. Martinez-Nava, standing behind her, allegedly threatened the deputy with the knife. After ordering Martinez-Nava to drop the knife without compliance, Streeter shot and killed him.

https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/polk-county-deputy-shot-man-charging-at-him-with-knife-sheriffs-office-says/

Deputies from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office were attempting to locate Lewis Moores II around 9:50 a.m. to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Two deputies ordered Moores to come out of his home. After about 10 minutes, Moores fired at the deputies, prompting one deputy to return fire. A standoff ensued, lasting approximately two hours, during which Moores periodically fired more shots while refusing to surrender. Moores ultimately shot and killed himself.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/pasco/2021/07/13/man-fires-at-deputies-then-fatally-shoots-himself-during-dade-city-standoff-pasco-sheriff-says/

Deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle driven by a woman at 2:45 a.m., with Johnny Ray Kirk and Michael Allen Lawson as passengers. After the stop, Kirk jumped out of the passenger seat and immediately fired toward two deputies who had arrived in separate cruisers. The deputies shot and killed Kirk. He was wanted for allegedly kidnapping two 16-year-old girls in Walton County and murdering an 80-year-old man.

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2021/07/12/escambia-county-deputies-shoot-suspect-wanted-in-okaloosa-murder/7935863002/

Police responded to a shooting on Benjamin Franklin Drive after 11:30 p.m. involving Billy Niewold, a former maintenance employee who had been fired from his job at a condo. Niewold allegedly fired gunshots into an empty car and got into a dispute with two people afterward. He then barricaded himself in the building and shot and killed himself hours later.

https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/sarasota-police-in-standoff-with-man-barricaded-in-a-condo/ 

On 07/04/2021, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers pursued a BMW traveling at very high speed in Northwest Jacksonville. The vehicle lost control on Edgewood Avenue North near Shenandoah Avenue, crossed the median, and struck a Chevrolet Suburban before bursting into flames. Pamela Stone, 48, was trapped inside the BMW and pronounced dead at the scene. Five others were injured, including a police officer who sustained burns while attempting to help. The crash remains under investigation.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/04/one-person-dead-five-injuried-in-traffic-accident-in-northwest-jacksonville/

Officers from the Tampa Police Department responded to a report of a fight at a Texaco station around 10 p.m., with information that one person involved may be armed with a gun. Upon arrival, John Reuben Turbe Jr. ran from the scene. An officer pursuing Turbe reportedly noticed he had a gun. Turbe allegedly turned and pointed the gun at the officer, who then shot and killed him.

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/suspect-taken-to-hospital-after-officer-involved-shooting-in-tampa

On 06/27/2021, deputies with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on a black Infiniti; the driver refused to stop, dragged a deputy with the car, and deputies escalated a chase. The Infiniti continued driving very fast and collided with a Chevrolet sedan at West Tennessee Street and Blountstown Highway. The driver and passenger as well as a bystander were all killed.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2021/07/25/leon-lcso-pursuit-tallahassee-killed-crash-west-tennessee/8086212002/
https://www.wctv.tv/2021/07/25/2-dead-following-car-crash-tallahassee/

On 06/17/2021, Florida Highway Patrol troopers attempted a traffic stop in St. Lucie County. The driver did not stop. Troopers escalated a high-speed pursuit along State Road 70 near Fort Pierce. During the chase, the fleeing vehicle crashed along the roadway. Patsy Joyce Terry, 76, was outside her vehicle near State Road 70 when the fleeing vehicle struck her. She sustained fatal injuries. Troopers arrested the driver at the crash site. Court records later show prosecutors charged the driver in connection with Terry’s death. Reporting confirms Terry was not shot by police and did not die from police gunfire. Her death resulted from the fleeing driver’s vehicle during the pursuit.

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/st-lucie-county/2021/06/18/woman-killed-st-lucie-county-crash-during-fhp-pursuit/7746314002/
https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/st-lucie-county/2025/09/11/23-year-old-man-sentenced-after-deadly-2021-crash-in-st-lucie-county/86098135007/
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tcpalm/name/patsy-terry-obituary?id=10655301

John Earle Barnes called police for help around midnight and then began arguing with responding deputies. He also streamed his interaction with them on Facebook. During the altercation, family members reported that Barnes stepped out of his trailer with a pellet gun and pointed it toward the deputies, who shot and killed him.

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/fatal-officer-involved-shooting-under-investigation-in-jackson-county/

Around 12:40 p.m., dispatch received a call regarding a disturbance. When deputies arrived, the man, believed to be armed, barricaded himself in the home and refused to come out. After several hours of negotiations that extended into the next morning, police entered the home and found the man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot.

https://tamaractalk.com/man-kills-himself-in-tamarac-bso-25455

Officers responded to a report of gunfire shortly before 2 a.m. inside a residence near the Homestead Air Reserve Base. A 38-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy were found dead inside the home. Three other victims, ages 18, 16, and 11, were taken to the hospital. The shooter, the 42-year-old boyfriend of one of the victims, died by apparent suicide after shooting himself at a nearby location as officers tried to negotiate with him.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3-dead-3-injured-murder-suicide-near-south-florida-military-n1269812

Keith Jackson allegedly shot and killed his boyfriend. During a police standoff, he lit the apartment on fire and shot and killed himself.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hillsborough/2021/06/07/riverview-standoff-ends-with-2-dead-after-man-admits-in-facebook-video-to-killing-boyfriend-sheriff-says/

Doral police officers spotted an allegedly stolen white Volkswagen around 6:15 a.m. and attempted to pull over the driver. The driver continued driving, and police reportedly stopped chasing him after he left Doral city limits. The driver later crashed the car into a canal and was killed.

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/05/28/man-pulled-from-water-after-car-plunges-into-canal-in-doral/