Gunman Opens Fire at Fla. Police Substation, Unoccupied Cruiser
By Alexa Coultoff
Source Tampa Bay Times
What to know
- A suspect fired multiple rounds at a Clearwater police substation and an unoccupied cruiser before calling 911 to report himself.
- No injuries were reported, and the 25-year-old suspect surrendered peacefully to police.
- The Tampa Police bomb squad responded because of suspicious evidence at the scene, but no explosives were found.
CLEARWATER, FL — A man fired a handgun at a beachside police substation and then drove a few blocks away to call 911 and report himself, Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said Monday.
Gandy characterized the 4 a.m. incident as “targeted, purposeful and accurate” during a news conference at the main police station Monday afternoon. No one was hurt in the shooting.
Officers who were inside the 700 Bayway Blvd. station heard shots fired and then saw the suspect leave the scene in a vehicle, Gandy said. Two minutes later, they got a 911 call from the suspect “taking responsibility for shooting at our building and police cars.”
Gamaliel Reyes, 25, of Lakeland “surrendered peacefully” and is in police custody, he said.
Reyes shot at the station and through the driver-side window of an unoccupied police cruiser, Gandy said.
The Tampa Police Department’s bomb squad was brought in “because of some evidence at the scene and some unique circumstances out there.”
Asked what prompted a response from the bomb squad, Gandy said he “can’t go into it any further.”
The bomb squad did not find any indications of explosive materials, he said.
Police are investigating what Reyes’ motive was and whether any other people were involved, Gandy said.
“Despite having called 911, he’s not talking to us anymore,” he said. “We’ve really got no idea what motivated him.”
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