Shots Fired At 2 Tampa Cops: Teen Faces Attempted Murder Charges

TAMPA, FL — A 17-year-old Tampa boy faces attempted murder charges after police say he fired on two officers late Tuesday night.

According to the Tampa Police Department, Officers Neal Pelletier and David Miller, both 7-year veterans, responded to an auto burglary in progress call just before midnight Jan. 10. When they arrived in the area of North 20th Street and East 28th Avenue where the call originated from, they saw three males standing around a vehicle.

The two officers requested backup units as the three males began walking south on 19th Street, an email from the police department said.

“Officers Pelletier and Miller, outfitted in vests with ‘POLICE’ on the front and wearing badges, exited their vehicle, verbally identified themselves as officers, and told the subjects to stop,” the email said. “Two black male subjects ran northwest. The white male … turned toward the officers and from feet away, fired a gun at them.”

Neither officer was injured in the shooting, the email said.

After firing the shot, police say the teen ran westbound. A perimeter was set up to track the suspect. Police say they found him hiding in a trash can in the 1800 block of East 21st Avenue.

The boy, who is not being named by Patch due to his age, was brought into custody and charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, resisting officer without violence, auto burglary and loitering/prowling.

The investigation continues with police still working to identify the other two males involved.

No further information is available at this time.

Image via Shutterstock