Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Desmond J. Davis
Age : 33
Gender : Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 06/18/2022
Location : George J. Bean Parkway near Tampa International Airport
City : Tampa
County : Hillsborough
State : Florida
Agency : Florida Highway Patrol
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Driver killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
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REASON FOR CHASE: Impaired driving suspected; a Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed Davis driving erratically on I-275 near Roosevelt Boulevard and attempted a traffic stop. Davis fled at high speed.
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NARRATIVE:
On 06/18/2022, 33-year-old Desmond J. Davis of St. Petersburg was killed after fleeing from Florida Highway Patrol troopers in a high-speed pursuit that crossed the Howard Frankland Bridge and ended near Tampa International Airport.
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At approximately 1 a.m., an FHP trooper observed the 2003 Lexus ES300 traveling erratically on I-275 near milepost 30. The trooper suspected Davis was impaired and attempted to stop him. Davis accelerated away and fled across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa.
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The pursuit continued to Tampa International Airport, where Davis stopped and allowed two adult female passengers to leave the Lexus. He then put the vehicle in reverse and intentionally collided with the pursuing trooper's patrol vehicle.
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Davis then fled onto George J. Bean Parkway, traveling southbound in the northbound lanes. North of Boy Scout Boulevard, the Lexus collided nearly head-on with a Chevrolet Silverado. The Lexus came to rest in the roadway and the Silverado spun into a guardrail.
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Davis was transported to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. The occupants of the Silverado were not reported killed.
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The pursuit covered the Howard Frankland Bridge and continued to Tampa International Airport before the fatal collision. The available public account does not provide a reliable total pursuit distance or duration.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Florida Highway Patrol did not publicly identify the trooper who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit in the sources located.
