ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- A Pinnelas County Sheriff's deputy and a St. Petersburg Police K-9 were shot and wounded while searching for a suspect who fled from officers on a traffic stop early Friday morning.
Law enforcement officers from the Violent Crimes Task Force initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation on a vehicle being driven by 23-year-old Elijah Johnson, near the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and 30th Street South in St. Petersburg around 1:49 a.m., according to a news release.
Johnson initially stopped for officers but then fled from the traffic stop in the vehicle. Officers did not pursue the vehicle and the Flight Unit responded.
Investigators say Johnson abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and 26nd Street South and fled on foot.
Officer Greg Shone and his K-9 Titan with the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to the location and began tracking Johnson. At some point during the track, Johnson shot at K-9 Titan striking and injuring the dog. Shone was not injured.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Sgt. David Stang was on perimeter in his unmarked cruiser with his emergency lights on searching for Johnson near the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and 27th Street South, when Johnson shot at Stang striking him in the shoulder.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers found Johnson dead near 3rd Avenue South and 26th Street South, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sergeant Stang was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Titan underwent surgery and is in stable condition.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is investigating the shooting. The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division is processing the crimes scenes.
The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
