Homicide suspect wanted in St. Petersburg arrested after tense I-75 standoff in Lee County

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A suspect wanted in connection with a St. Petersburg homicide is in custody after barricading inside a vehicle on I-75 in Lee County, leading to a standoff that shut down the highway for hours Wednesday afternoon.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene after troopers located the suspect's vehicle in the southbound lanes of I-75.

Dramatic video sent to WINK News appears to show law enforcement taking the suspect into custody shortly after shots were fired during the standoff, just after 5 p.m.

Drone video also captured part of the scene, showing a large law enforcement presence on I-75 during the standoff:

The standoff temporarily closed all northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 near Exit 128 Wednesday afternoon.

According to FHP and LCSO, two northbound outside lanes later reopened while southbound traffic was diverted off the interstate as emergency crews continued operations on scene.

Southbound traffic is actively being diverted off the interstate.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers were pursuing a solo vehicle from St. Petersburg after the driver became wanted in connection with a homicide.

The St. Petersburg Police Department said officers responded shortly after noon Wednesday to a reported shooting in the 4100 block of 12th Avenue South.

Police said the victim was a 47-year-old woman who worked as a City of St. Petersburg sanitation technician for 12 years. She was shot and killed while sitting inside her front-loader work vehicle, according to police.

The victim and the suspect knew each other, and police said the shooting was a targeted attack.

Police have identified the suspect but have not released the person's name.

WINK News spoke with St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, who said the victim was a mother believed to have four children.

The unidentified mother worked for the city for around ten years. Holloway could not verify if she was working or on a lunch break at the time of death.

Holloway believes this shooting was domestic and not a random act, adding that the suspect and victim got into an argument, then the suspect entered the cab of a front loader and shot the victim several times.

Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, and the suspect barricaded themselves within the car. Efforts are being made to negotiate a peaceful surrender; however, troopers believed gunshots were fired.

According to law enforcement on the scene, they have cleared the area and that officers on site are “shaken” but no injuries.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is expected to release the identity of the suspect shortly.

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