Florida state trooper hospitalized following pursuit, shootout; 1 suspect dead
Florida authorities said a second suspect was taken into custody following the police chase on Interstate 75
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Florida state trooper was hospitalized and underwent surgery after he was shot by a suspect following a pursuit and shootout in Pasco County early Saturday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed to Fox News Digital.
One suspect was killed during the shootout and a second was taken into custody, police said in a release.
A trooper patrolling Interstate 75 initially pulled over near what at first appeared to be two disabled vehicles just after 3 a.m., Florida Highway Patrol Director Gene Spaulding said in a news conference.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}When the trooper stopped, the two suspects immediately fled north into Hernando County in one of the vehicles. Both vehicles were later found to be stolen, FOX 13 reported.
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A Florida state trooper was shot in a shootout following a pursuit Saturday. (Florida Highway Patrol)
The suspects allegedly fired at the trooper while driving, hitting a tanker truck that happened to be on the freeway.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The driver turned around and started heading back south on I-75 after reaching State Route 50, with two more troopers now in pursuit.
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The driver was finally stopped farther south in Wesley Chapel, Florida, after one of the troopers conducted a PIT maneuver, Spaulding said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspects then fled the vehicle heading for a wooded area and one was immediately apprehended, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The Florida trooper was shot just below his bullet-proof vest and "seems to be doing well" after surgery, Florida Highway Patrol Director Gene Spaulding said. (Florida Highway Patrol)
The other suspect pulled a gun on one of the troopers and allegedly shot him in the stomach. The trooper was airlifted to a Tampa hospital and was in stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to Spaulding.
The trooper was shot just below his bullet-proof vest and "seems to be doing well" after surgery, Spaulding said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He did return fire and the subject was killed at the scene," Spaulding said, adding that they weren't releasing any names yet.
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Charges against the suspect in custody are pending.