Police Chase Ensues On I-275 After Two Officers Were Shot At In Circle K Parking Lot

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — One police officer was shot, another was injured trying to end a chase that reached 150 mph, and a 24-year-old St. Petersburg suspect is in jail on drug charges with more criminal counts pending.

The mayhem began Tuesday night following a domestic violence report, said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri at a news conference Thursday. (Watch video of the news conference below.)

Calvin Brockington is accused of ambushing a Pinellas Park police officer at a Circle K, 4900 Ulmerton Road, at 9:50 p.m. after Brockinton's ex-girlfriend called police from inside a bathroom stall following physical abuse by him, Gualtieri said.

The victim pulled into the gas station and told Brockington she needed to pre-pay for gas, and called police while she was in the store. She told the 911 operator that Brockington didn't like police officers, had threatened her and hit her multiple times, Gualtieri said.

Brockington saw the victim in a St. Petersburg parking lot and asked her to give him a ride to Rainbow Village because he wanted to see his children who live there.

Officer Jacob Derr, 30, with the Pinellas Park Police Department pulled into the parking lot and saw a black Ford Focus, which was the color of car officers were told by police dispatch to look for.

As Derr approached the car he was ambushed by Brockington, who opened a car door and shot the officer in the upper right arm, fracturing the bone, officials said.

"It incapacitated the officer where he had no use of his arm. He's right-handed and couldn't reach for his gun," Gualtieri said. "And Brockington exits the door and fires four more times at the officer."

Brockington then tried to get into Derr's police cruiser but couldn't, and ran into the store.

Surveillance video shows Brockington carjacking a man from Texas whose Kia was parked at a gas pump.

Pinellas Park Officer K.C. Gavin, 37, had parked her patrol car near Derr's vehicle before Brockington fled the convenience store.

"He sees the second Pinellas Park police car, and he sees Officer Gavin, and he shoots at her," Gualtieri said. Gavin was not hurt in the exchange.

Brockington then drove off on Ulmerton Road. Brockington drove onto Interstate 275 and reached speeds of about 150 mph, investigators said.

The suspect drove to 28th Street South in South St. Pete, where Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Lundy struck Brockington's vehicle with his in an attempt to end the chase. Lundy's vehicle crashed into a tree, authorities said, and Lundy was injured, including a broken foot.

Two other deputies also crashed while chasing Brockington, Gualtieri said, and suffered minor injuries.

Brockington eventually ran into a house at 928 22nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg, where officers arrested him on multiple charges, including selling, trafficking and possessing drugs.

According to the sheriff's office, Brockington is accused of selling drugs to undercover St. Pete police officers 17 times from March 2021 to April 2022.

The revolver Brockington is accused of using was last registered in 1980 to a Miami woman not connected to the crimes.

Brockington told officers as they arrested him, "With a shot left, I could've killed (Derr)."

"I'm not even crying and I'm about to catch 30 or 40 years of my life," Brockington told officers as he was arrested, Gualtieri said. "I don't feel no different."

Press Release, Video Of Shooting From Circle K Surveillance, Officer Derr's Body Worn Camera. (Video Provided By Pinellas County Sheriff's Office) *Warning: Video May Be Too Graphic For Some Viewers.