Two Florida Police Officers Wounded, Suspect Dead Following Shootout
What to Know
- Two Gainesville police officers were wounded in a shooting during a response to reports of gunfire.
- The suspect exited a fleeing vehicle and fired at officers, leading to his death at the scene.
- Authorities found another victim's body at Imeca Lumber & Hardware, linked to the initial incident.
GAINESVILLE, Florida -- Two Gainesville police officers were shot, and two people were killed, including the suspected gunman, Wednesday morning.
The officers responded to reports of shots fired on East University Avenue near Waldo Road just before 8 a.m., WCJB-TV reported.
According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers observed a vehicle believed to be fleeing the scene and attempted to conduct a stop.
Officials said the suspect exited the vehicle and began firing at officers, striking and wounding the two officers. Additional officers responded and shot the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
During a subsequent search of the area, officers located the body of another person inside Imeca Lumber & Hardware. Police believe that death is connected to the initial shots fired, though officials did not release additional details about the victim.
Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya said the wounded officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. Both officers were released later Wednesday afternoon.
Moya said multiple rounds were fired during the encounter and that the gunfire was captured on department technology. He added that he has spoken with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is on scene assisting with the investigation.
“I reviewed some video and I assure you that this assailant had clear intent,” Moya said. “And we are not only lucky but trained in our response to that, was met with success.”
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the University of Florida Police Department also responded to the scene.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Alachua County Sheriff Chad D. Scott said the incident was isolated and that there was no ongoing threat to the surrounding community.
“This is certainly not how we want to start the year off,” Scott said. “The most important thing I can tell folks who are in surrounding neighborhoods, you are safe.”
Gainesville officials said the investigation remains ongoing.