Man Fatally Shot By Tampa Police After Opening Fire On Officers

TAMPA, FL — A 42-year-old man is dead following an officer-involved shooting by the Tampa police.

On Thursday at 10:50 p.m., officers responded to a call about an armed man firing a gun from a gray Kia Soul at a club at 3700 block of Busch Boulevard.

Shortly after, officers, with the help of the Tampa police helicopter, spotted the Kia heading south on North 40th Street and police attempted a traffic stop at the intersection of North 40th Street and East 32nd Avenue.

During the stop, the passenger in the Kia, Laquincy Dartez Ward, got out and fired multiple rounds at officers, striking their police vehicle, Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson said. Officers returned fire and struck the passenger, who got back into the Kia.

The 37-year-old driver, Jeanette Lockard, continued fleeing south on North 40th Street, but then stopped at 11 p.m., got out of the Kia and surrendered to police.

Ward was found dead in the car.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is independently investigating the shooting.

Lockard was arrested and charged with seven counts of accessory after the fact to attempted murder, tampering with evidence related to a felony and felony fleeing to elude.

Tampa Police detectives are continuing to investigate what led to the original shooting on Busch Boulevard.

The police officers involved have been placed on paid-administrative leave, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. Neither officer was injured. One was hired by Tampa police in May 2021 and the other in May 2017.

"I am thankful that no officers or community members were injured or killed by this criminal," said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. "Seeing the bullets that ripped through the door, hood and windshield of the police car clearly shows this person had a complete disregard for human life. While officers train consistently for critical situations, the use of deadly force is the last resort any officer wants to take. In this case, the shooter gave the officers no other option."