A newly released police body camera video showed tense moments as a Florida teenager who had already shot his father then turned the gun on his mother as officers exchanged fire.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reported the horrific scene that left three dead and one officer injured in Tampa on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr., the 19-year-old suspect, and his parents, Rebecca Ann Themelis, 48, and her husband, Christos Byron Themelis, 51.
“The monster we encountered tonight is responsible for not only injuring our deputy, but also killing his mother and father,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Our deputies responded to a chaotic scene and immediately put themselves in harm's way to protect our community. Without our deputy's quick and skilled response, an entire neighborhood would have been in danger.”
Deputy Shane McGough, whose body camera footage was released, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
(Video credit: 10 Tampa Bay)
“Watching this situation play out is really scary,” Chronister said. “There is no question that our deputies' quick response mitigated the threat to this community. Please keep Deputy McGough and his family in your prayers as he recovers from surgery this morning.”
Police reportedly received a call shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday from the woman later identified as Rebecca Ann Themelis saying her husband had been shot.
“While on the phone with the HCSO dispatch center, several more shots were fired,” the sheriff's office said. said in a press release. “Upon arrival, officers encountered the caller and the suspect outside the residence.”
“Show me your hands, show me your fucking hands,” Deputy McGough could be heard shouting at Christos Alexander in the footage.
He told the mother to “get out of the house now” and walk towards him, as he said, “he's got her at gunpoint,” on his radio.
“Listen, we don't want to hurt you, just let your mom bring us closer, let us come closer, okay?” The 26-year-old deputy could be heard telling the suspect, telling him to “keep your hands up” and “Don't reach behind him.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is releasing footage from last night's scene in Tampa. The body camera video is of Deputy Shane McGough, the deputy who received a gunshot wound to the leg.
“Watching this situation play out is really scary,” Sheriff Chronister said. “There… pic.twitter.com/KTzkjGFsO4
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) June 16, 2024
“Lady, get away from him now and come here,” McGough pleaded with the woman as he urged her to “walk over to me, step into my flashlight.”
To his horror, the teenager “then shot his mother, who called, and turned away [and] fired toward the deputies,” according to the sheriff's office. “Five deputies returned fire, deploying their service weapons, causing Themelis, Jr., to retreat into his home.”
A SWAT team and robot were used to enter the home through the front door.
“Unfortunately, the first person we hit on the ground is the father,” Chronister said at a news conference. “Dad had succumbed to his injuries.”
The teenage suspect had also died from injuries sustained in the shootout with the officers.
UPDATE: The situation has been resolved. An update will be provided shortly. https://t.co/VddDhFqlGL
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) June 16, 2024
“Deputies have responded to incidents at the home 10 times before, with the majority involving mental health services and violence against the suspect's parents,” Chronister said at the news conference. daily mail reported “He noted there was also an active risk protection order against the 19-year-old which led deputies to confiscate his weapons.”
Deputy McGough as reported he had surgery to remove the bullet from his leg and had a metal rod inserted.
Please keep Rep. McGough in your prayers. https://t.co/AmIrWHcsNa
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) June 16, 2024
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