Wanted homicide suspect who barricaded themselves on I-75 in custody

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are on scene, where they are investigating a wanted shooting suspect who barricaded themselves within their vehicle on Interstate 75 southbound.

On Wednesday, law enforcement closed all northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 near Mile Marker 126 while they worked to de-escalate the situation. 

At 5:09 p.m., the suspect has been apprehended and taken into custody by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

An update from FHP and LCSO states that two northbound outside lanes of I-75 at Exit: 128 have reopened. All southbound lanes at Exit: 128 will remain close until further notice as emergency crews continue operations on scene. 

Southbound traffic is actively being diverted off the interstate.

WINK News contacted FHP regarding this incident, where they confirmed chasing after a solo vehicle from St. Petersburg, wanted for a homicide that occurred in the area.

Our team contacted the St. Petersburg Police Department regarding this shooting. According to the police department, the victim is a 12-year City of St. Petersburg employee who was a sanitation technician. She was shot while sitting inside her front-end loader work vehicle. 

The victim and the suspect were known to each other. The public is not in danger; the incident was not a random act, the police department said.

Police have identified the suspect; however, they have not disclosed their identity.

WINK News interviewed St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, who said the victim in the shooting was a 47-year-old 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.

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