RIVERVIEW, Fla. – An off-duty agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is in serious condition after being shot in the parking lot of a Riverview bowling alley late Friday night.
The shooting occurred around 11:07 PM at The Alley at Southshore, located at 10221 Big Bend Road. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a shooting and found the victim, an ATF agent, with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
The agent was transported to a local hospital and is currently in serious but stable condition.
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According to investigators, the agent was at the bowling alley with his wife and children. As they were leaving, he witnessed an altercation in the parking lot and intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
“Every day whether it’s a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, where the Agents of the alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. We put our uniform on and we get ready to attack the day, whatever we need to do to keep this community safe,” said Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer. “Even when we are not wearing our uniform, we have a duty to act and this is what this agent did tonight or last night. He saw danger and he tried to quell that danger and in doing so he suffered a serious injury.”
The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Christopher Smith, fled the scene after the shooting. He was located and arrested at his home on Saturday morning, approximately seven hours after the incident.
Smith is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, tampering with physical evidence, and carrying a concealed firearm.
PREVIOUS REPORT: The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a shooting that left one person with serious injuries at a Riverview bowling alley.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at The Alley at Southshore, located at 10221 Big Bend Road, around 11:00 PM on Friday, December 27th.
Upon arrival, they found one victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is currently in serious condition.
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