Deputy-Involved Shooting In Polk County, 2 Suspects: Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL —Update: Two suspects who allegedly were burglarizing a storage unit business in the Bowling Green area drove away from local police when their activity had been interrupted at about midnight, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.

Bowling Green officers asked for the Polk County Sheriff's Office to back them up as suspects, James Hilburn, 27, of Riverview and Justin Norris, 25, of Dover, drove through Fort Meade to U.S. Highway 60. Authorities accused the suspects of having a gun in the driver's seat.

Judd said the suspects turned onto Prairie Industrial Parkway during the chase, and deputies set up stop sticks. The road provides only one way out and one way in, according to Judd. Hilburn allegedly turned his vehicle toward Lieutenant William Strickland, 49.

"Immediately, we start shooting at the vehicle," Judd said. "James is ultimately shot in the head—in the face area. Justin is shot in the legs. And they're also grazed. And the vehicle coasts to a stop."

Two other deputies, Britton "Alex" Watson, 32, and Dylan Harrison, 27, shot at the suspects, too, Judd said. The number of times deputies shot toward the vehicle has not been released yet.

"We don't choose to shoot people—people choose for us to shoot at them. And you can make sure that our deputies can do everything we can to take you into custody peacefully. That's why we were putting out stop sticks," Judd said.

Hilburn is in critical condition, and is in a medically-induced coma, authorities said. Norris has been treated at a local hospital and released into the Polk County Jail.

Original Patch Story:

Two suspects running from police in Hardee County were shot by Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies after they got into the Mulberry area Friday morning, a Polk County Sheriff's news conference said.

Three deputies shot at the two men who had guns and were threatening the lives of the deputies, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The men were stopped by the officers, and then taken to a local hospital. None of the deputies were injured.

This is a developing story. Patch will keep you updated.