SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — A man who was shot during an encounter with Pinellas County deputies on Thursday afternoon has died, police say.
The Clearwater Police Department says Robert Hubbard, 43, died after the shooting. His last known address was in Tampa.
In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for Clearwater police said the incident stemmed from an armed carjacking in Hillsborough County. Officers in neighboring Pinellas county were alerted that the car was spotted in the area.
A chase ensued through Clearwater and into Safety Harbor. Officers tried to stop the car using stop sticks, but the suspect continued driving on deflated tires.
A man got out of the car and pointed a handgun at police. Clearwater police say four deputies shot at him. They identified those officers as Robert Smith, Daniel Abbott, Anthony Hellstern and Demarcus Flournoy.
The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is investigating the shooting.
As of Thursday afternoon, multiple law enforcement agencies are present in the area of Enterprise Rd E. & Philippe Pkwy. Area residents reported hearing police vehicles speeding past their homes.
Officers closed off Philippe Pkwy north of Enterprise Rd near Philippe Park for several hours.
Police say the alert they got concerning the suspect mentioned he was armed and dangerous and had wishes to have a shootout with law enforcement.
Kurt Bollenbacher was working in his driveway Thursday when he heard a helicopter above his home. He says a few seconds later, several law enforcement sped past his house.
When he walked to the sidewalk, he heard gunshots.
“About one and a half seconds worth of duration of gunfire, but multiple, multiple shots,” Bollenbacher said. “In about 40 seconds, I could smell the cordite, and in that time, there was I don’t know how many 20, 30 police vehicles.”
Bollenbacher, like many of his neighbors, is feeling a bit uneasy after the shooting Thursday.
“It is concerning, but here’s the thing, it’s everywhere these days,” Bollenbacher said.
This is a developing story.