TAMPA, Fla. – On Thursday, a shootout and standoff at the Meridian Pointe Apartments on E. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa resulted in the death of a suspect.
Police Chief Lee Bercaw stated that officers were following up on a previous case when they located the suspect at the complex. The suspect fled and fired at police, who returned fire but were not injured. He then entered an apartment with several occupants, who were able to escape unharmed.
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After a 90-minute standoff, hostage negotiators and SWAT units found the suspect dead inside the apartment.
Chief Bercaw emphasized the dangerous nature of the situation, noting the presence of many families and children in the area.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, and police are withholding details about the prior case due to the ongoing investigation.
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