Officer In Tarpon Springs Shooting Identified

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — As the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office continue to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting in Tarpon Springs, officials have made a plea to the public to stop spreading misinformation about the case. The officer who fired the shot that killed Nicholas A. Provenza, 25, of Palm Harbor, was also identified during a Tuesday media conference.

Officer Scott MacIsaac fired the shot that killd Provenza on Saturday, May 6, Chief Robert P. Kochen said Tuesday. MacIsaac has been with the department since 2011. He is assigned to the patrol unit and serves as a field training officer, Kochen said.

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Since the Saturday shooting, Kochen said people have been spreading false information about the case and speculating about its details. “For instance, individuals have falsely identified Tarpon Springs Police Maj. Michael Trill as the officer involved, which has been followed by malicious accusations being made about him, mention of going to the officer’s residence and mention of his family, and it was based on false information,” Kochen said.

The incident that led to Provenza’s death began to unfold just after 1:30 p.m. Saturday. MacIsaac was working off-duty at a car show in the downtown area when he was approached by attendees who said a suspicious white male was riding a bicycle “wearing an orange jacket with the hood pulled over his head,” a Saturday email from the police department said.

Provenza was reportedly in the area of Tarpon and Safford avenues at the time. The officer made contact with him and called out over the radio the name and date of birth Povenza had given him. Police say nothing came back on the name provided, leading to the officer to advise “that he gave him a fake name.” Provenza reportedly gave the officer another name, which the officer relayed over the radio, the email said.

“Then there was silence, and then the officer came over the radio stating ‘shots fired,’ ‘shots fired,’ ‘shots fired,’” the email said. The officer then said, “he came at me with a knife,’” the agency added.

Provenza was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. MacIsaac was not injured, the agency reported.

As to whether Provenza was armed or not has also been a point of speculation on social media, Kochen acknowledged on Tuesday.

“Additionally, there is inaccurate information being disseminated that the subject was either unarmed or had sunglasses in his hand,” Kochen said. “This is not the case. It is to be noted that the weapon used by the subject was recovered and was entered into evidence as part of the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”

MacIsaac remains on paid administrative leave pending the police department’s preliminary review of the case. The shooting is also under investigation by FDLE and the state attorney’s office. Once those two agencies complete their investigations, information will be released to the public, Kochen said.

Now that the officer’s name has been made public, Kochen urged “understanding for the officer, who is also dealing with this very emotional incident, as are those close to him.”

Kochen also noted that threats toward law enforcement officers and their families will not be tolerated and will be investigated.

“We offer condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas,” Kochen said. “We ask that you allow the investigating agencies the respect to complete their duties in regard to this investigation and allow the process to take place legitimately. We implore the public to not partake in the misinformation that is circulated, by either disseminating this false information or blindly believing it.”

It remains unclear how soon FDLE and the state attorney’s office will complete their investigations.

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