Man Killed, Trooper Shot Following Pursuit On I-75 In Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY, FL — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper is in serious but stable condition after being shot in the torso Saturday when he pursued two men who were attempting to steal a pickup truck.

At 3:15 a.m., a trooper on patrol along Interstate 75 came upon two pickup trucks and what looked to be two men attempting to steal one of the trucks or stealing items from inside the truck.

When the trooper pulled up to investigate, the two men fled north on I-75 in their pickup truck.

As the pursuit continued, the men fired a gun several times from their pickup truck, striking a tanker truck traveling north on I-75. Upon reaching State Road 50, the truck reversed direction and began traveling south on I-75 where two more troopers joined the pursuit.

As the men reached Overpass Road, they exited the interstate and a trooper successfully performed a successful PIT maneuver, a tactical technique in which the law enforcement vehicle swings sideways in front of the vehicle being pursued to stop it.

After the PIT maneuver, the two men ran into a wooded area south of Overpass Road where one of the men surrendered to a trooper but the other man pulled out a handgun and exchanged fire with the trooper.

The man with the handgun died at the scene. The trooper who was shot in the torso was airlifted to the hospital where he's listed in serious but stable condition.

Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with members of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating the incident.

The second man, who was also taken the hospital to be treated for an injury, has been identified as Yoandy Mora Perez, 38, of Hialeah.

He was charged with fleeing and eluding, burglary of a convenience, grand theft, obstruction without violence and felony murder. He is being held at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on a $685,000 bond.