Suspect In Lakeland Mass Shooting Killed While Fleeing From Police

LAKELAND, FL — A 21-year-old man under investigation for taking part in a mass shooting in Lakeland was shot and killed Monday after attempting to flee from authorities, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Alex Greene was being investigated by the Lakeland Police Department for his involvement in the drive-by shooting on Jan. 30 in Lakeland that injured 11 people.

He was under surveillance by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosive, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lakeland police on Monday afternoon when he left a home in Eagle Lake and got into a white Chevrolet Silverado.

An FDLE agent and ATF agents activated the emergency equipment on their undercover vehicles and attempted to stop Greene as he left the residence. Greene fled the area, followed by Capt. Eric Harper of the Lakeland Police Department, Judd said.

Just east of Andreas Family Restaurant at 1498 Havendale Blvd., Harper successfully executed a PIT maneuver, a tactic to force a fleeing vehicle to stop by placing a cruiser sideways in its path.

Judd said Greene then tried to get away on foot. He attempted to carjack an elderly woman's Toyota Camry but Harper placed himself to the left of the driver's side and drew his agency-issued firearm, yelling commands to Greene to "stop" and "show me your hands."

Harper also loudly identified himself as a police officer, but Judd said Greene refused to comply with the verbal commands. Instead, Greene pushed the elderly woman out of the way and got into the silver Toyota Camry, put it in drive and drove it toward Harper, quickly accelerating in an attempt to run the police captain over.

See related:

• Car In Drive-By Shooting Of 11 Men Found, $5K Reward: Lakeland Police
• 10 Hurt In Lakeland Mass Shooting; Police Suspect Link To Drug Sales

Harper fired his gun six times into the driver's side car while moving out of its path, said Judd.

Judd said Greene, who was struck by gunfire, rammed the Camry into a parked vehicle in the Andreas restaurant parking lot, just missing Harper. He then continued to drive the Camry west on Havendale Boulevard before crashing into an unoccupied business at 1598 Havendale Blvd.

He was taken to Winter Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting.

Judd, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor and State Attorney Brian Haas briefed the media from the scene of the crash in Winter Haven Monday.

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office also executed a search warrant Monday on the Chevrolet Silverado driven and recovered 28 grams of cocaine, 4,178.9 grams of marijuana, a Glock .357 handgun, a Glock .45 handgun and $2,813.00 in money. Greene was also carrying $5,833 cash at the time he was shot.

Law enforcement is continuing its search for three other men involved in the mass shooting.