Name Of Man Killed In Police Shooting Released, Officer Injured

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — An accused shooter is dead after exchanging gunfire with St. Petersburg police officers in a store parking lot Wednesday afternoon.

St. Pete Police Department said the shootout occurred at 4:17 p.m. at the Food Max parking lot on 18th Avenue South in St. Pete.

The 20-year-old suspect, Dominique Harris, had a warrant for alleged child abuse, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a news conference.

Harris allegedly slammed a 15-year-old to the ground at a park in St. Pete in October.

Officers with the Special Investigations Unit asked Harris for his identification as he sat in a vehicle in the Food Max parking lot on Wednesday.

He refused to get out of the car and speak to police, Gualtieri said.

"Harris put the car in reverse and rammed into the back, striking one of the officer's cruisers and accelerated quickly forward," Gualtieri said.

He crashed into a resident's car after he hit the patrol car, according to the sheriff.

Gualtieri said when another officer blocked Harris's escape with a police car, Harris pointed a semi-automatic out of the car window and shot an officer in the groin area. The officer's partner helped him to safety, and he was taken to a hospital where he was last reported in stable condition as he underwent surgery.

Gualtieri said officers continued to shoot at Harris as he remained a threat as he shot at the officers.

The suspect was shot. Harris was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The identity of the officer who was shot will be released to the community once their family has been notified. A second officer injured during the incident was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and has been released.

The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is investigating the shooting. The officers involved in this shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave as is standard under St. Petersburg Police Department policy, the sheriff said.

Original Patch Story:

A police officer with the St. Pete Police Department and at least one other person was shot on Wednesday around 4:17 p.m. in the 1400 block of 18th Avenue S, a St. Pete police spokesperson said.

The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is on the way to conduct the investigation, authorities said.

The condition of the officer and the person who was shot is unclear.

This is a developing story. Patch will keep you updated.