PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – On Tuesday, Pinellas County Sheriff Gualtieri and St. Petersburg Police Chief Holloway held a press conference to provide an update and release body-worn camera and dash-camera video from the St. Petersburg Police Department officer-involved shooting that occurred on June 26, 2021.
At about 3:31 p.m. on June 26, 2021, two St. Petersburg Police officers were attempting to locate 23-year-old Austin Kingos who had probable cause for his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of violation of an injunction for stalking.
According to investigators, Officer Ronald McKenzie and Officer Pavel Kuznetsov arrived at 10790 3rd Street North, observed Kingos in a vehicle and attempted to make contact with him. Both officers were in marked cruisers with their emergency lights activated and were in uniform.
Investigators say as the officers made contact with Kingos they identified themselves and attempted to take Kingos into custody at the driver’s side door. A struggle ensued and Kingos pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and fired at the officers.
Kingos then fled the scene on foot.
Officer McKenzie discharged his agency issued firearm at Kingos and both officers initiated a foot pursuit. The officers continued to verbally challenge Kingos, who eventually dropped his weapon. Kingos was taken into custody by the officers at 108th Avenue and 4th Street.
Once in custody, it was determined that Kingos was shot once in the left leg.
The officers immediately rendered first aid to Kingos until paramedics arrived. Kingos was transported to a local hospital and his injuries are non-life-threatening.
The officers were not injured.
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