Land O’ Lakes Attempted Homicide: Details Released

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — The death of a 34-year-old Tampa man following a string of unusual events in Land O’ Lakes Wednesday remains under investigation. Authorities, however, released some details about the case on Friday.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the events that preceded the death of John Sellinger began to unfold Wednesday, Dec. 27 around 2:40 p.m. The agency said it received four different 911 calls reporting a reckless driver heading east on State Road 54 from the Suncoast Parkway. A short time after those calls came in, the vehicle was reported to be on Land O' Lakes Boulevard.

The motorist who was behind the wheel of the vehicle reported to have been driving recklessly was also accused in a carjacking attempt and an attempted homicide, an email from the sheriff’s office said. Sellinger, deputies say, broke the window out of one vehicle and attempted to steal a motorcycle from a 70-year-old man.

“A confrontation ensued where the 70-year-old man pulled out a weapon and pointed it at the suspect,” the email said. “The suspect nearly choked the 70-year-old man to unconsciousness before several bystanders intervened.”

The first deputy to arrive on the scene in the 2500 block of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard saw Sellinger being chased by three residents. The deputy also gave chase, but Sellinger wouldn’t follow commands, the agency noted.

“The deputy attempted to detain the subject, but he resisted violently,” the email said. “The deputy deployed his taser, which had no effect.”

Sellinger was able to break away and crossed U.S. 41, entering a nearby field. At that point, other deputies arrived on the scene and were able to catch up with Sellinger in an open field on the southwest corner of U.S. 41 and Morgan Road. One deputy tried pepper spray to bring Sellinger under control, but it also had no effect, the agency said.

Another attempt at using a taser was tried, as well. “After the five-second deployment, the subject was able to pull one of the probes free which defeated any additional use due to no connection.”

Sellinger was eventually secured, the agency noted. Deputies called Pasco County Fire Rescue for medical assistance due to Sellinger’s “irrational and violent actions as well as being exposed to pepper spray,” the email said. Before EMS could arrive, Sellinger went into medical distress, the agency added.

Deputies began CPR and used an AED device on Sellinger. When fire rescue arrived, Sellinger was taken to a local hospital. He died Thursday, the agency reported.

The cause of Sellinger's death remains under investigation by the Pasco County Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities are awaiting a toxicology report.

After the incident, the sheriff’s office learned Sellinger had been reported missing and endangered by the Tampa Police Department. “It was also reported that the suspect had several hit-and-run incidents in Hillsborough County before Pasco deputies made contact with him in Land O’ Lakes,” the email said.

Sellinger was facing a long list of criminal charges, the agency noted. Those charges included attempted homicide, attempted carjacking, two attempted auto thefts, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.

No further information is available at this time.

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