2 Hillsborough deputies hurt, suspect killed in Ruskin shooting – NBC 6 South Florida

Two Florida deputies were shot and a suspect was killed in a shootout near Tampa on Thursday, authorities said.

The incident happened in Ruskin, south of Tampa in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said the incident began Wednesday night when a woman said her ex-boyfriend showed up at her home, zip-tied her and taped a sock into her mouth.

The woman said she was held captive throughout the night, losing consciousness as the suspect held her at gunpoint and told her he was going to kill her, Chronister said.

When the woman woke up Thursday morning she found she was no longer restrained, and the ex-boyfriend let her leave.

She went to the sheriff’s office and deputies responded to an apartment complex in Ruskin where the suspect was found.

A drone deputy saw the suspect going to a van in the parking lot and deputies moved in.

That’s when the suspect punched his hand through a vehicle’s window to get a better shot and opened fire on one deputy, shooting him in the face, Chronister said.

The suspect opened fire on a second deputy, who was shot in the neck while still in his patrol car, Chronister said.

A third deputy returned fire, hitting the suspect multiple times.

The two wounded deputies were airlifted to a local hospital for treatment, and both were speaking and grateful to be alive, Chronister said.

“The hand of God was with our deputies here today,” he told reporters at a news conference.

The 34-year-old suspect was also taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Chronister said.