Police: Carjacking Suspect Dies After Gun Battle With St. Pete Officers

ST. PETERSBURG - A 33-year-old carjacking suspect was shot and killed by police Wednesday morning after exchanging gunfire with officers, a police spokesperson said.

About 12:50 a.m., a patrol officer spotted a white pickup that had been stolen in an armed carjacking Monday evening. The stolen pickup was at the Choice Food Store, 5th Avenue S. and 34th Street.

The officer kept the truck under surveillance. The truck appeared to have a flat front tire and was driving very slowly, eventually turning east into the alley behind 2940 Freemont Terrace South. Two patrol cruisers turned in behind him. The suspect bailed out of the truck and fired at the patrol cruiser and two officers fired back, police said.

The suspect died of his wounds at a local hospital. No officers were injured. Police identified the suspect as Timothy Earl Jackson. He served eight years and nine months in prison for robbery and was released last August.

The carjacking occurred 8:45 p.m.Monday at 4800 20th Ave. S in St. Petersburg. The victim was driving when two men blocked his pickup. They got out of their car, went to the truck and one of them pointed a black semi-automatic gun at him. The suspects told the driver to get out of the white Toyota truck and then left in the vehicle.

Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Image via Shutterstock; 2nd image via St. Petersburg Police Department