HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A drug deal turned violent Wednesday in Hernando County when a man attempting to sell drugs was robbed at gunpoint, kidnapped, and forced into the trunk of a car by the buyer, Dwayne Marcquize Harris.
The victim managed to escape, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two men.
The victim flagged down a Florida Highway Patrol trooper for help. Harris, accompanied by his father, Loren Richardson, fled the scene but were pursued by the trooper into Pasco County. Harris escaped on foot, but Richardson was apprehended.
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Richardson revealed that Harris had asked him to drive him to the hospital for a gunshot wound sustained in the earlier altercation. He also admitted to fleeing from the trooper under duress from his armed son.
Pasco Sheriff’s deputies later located Harris and took him to a local trauma center for treatment. He initially provided conflicting statements to authorities before refusing to cooperate.
Harris now faces charges of Kidnapping while Armed and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and is currently awaiting transfer to the Pasco County Jail upon his release from medical care.
Richardson was arrested by the FHP on charges of Fleeing to Elude.
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