INDIAN SHORES, Fla. –A 65-year-old woman is clinging to life after seven Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies opened fire early Tuesday near 20254 Gulf Boulevard, capping a chaotic chase that spanned roads and the beach.
Marina De Flippo, the suspect, allegedly waved a gun, rammed police vehicles, and defied stop attempts, prompting a hail of bullets that left her in critical condition.
The incident began around 1:29 a.m. when deputies stopped a car at 113 Street North and Park Boulevard for running a red light, according to St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
Investigators say that deputies pulled De Flippo over at 113th Street North and Park Boulevard for running a red light. During the stop, she told a deputy the CIA was hunting her before taking off again. PCSO tried stop sticks to halt her silver sedan, but she veered west onto the beach, where Indian Shores Police Department (ISPD) cornered her again, St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said.
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There, De Flippo brandished a handgun, Holloway said. ISPD officers fired “less lethal” rounds—possibly bean bags or rubber bullets—to coax her out, but she didn’t budge. Instead, she slammed into an ISPD cruiser and bolted north on Gulf Boulevard. Deputies executed a PIT maneuver, spinning her car, yet she kept going, smashing into more law enforcement vehicles.
Deputies then fired their weapons, and De Flippo was struck multiple times. She was transported to the hospital and is listed in critical condition.
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Seven deputies were involved in the shooting, police say, and one deputy was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The following Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies were involved in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation:
- Lt. Thomas Montgomery
- K9 Corporal Justin Fineberg
- Corporal Brian Hirshman
- Corporal Tyler Reidy
- Deputy Melanie Leib
- Deputy Kyle Kilian
- Deputy Alberto Ortiz
The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is now handling the investigation.
Gulf Blvd. remains closed to all traffic from the Walsingham Bridge south to 197 Avenue East and is expected to remain closed for several hours while the investigation continues.
Correction: The original story listed Michael Kilian as one of the deputies involved in this incident. The story has been updated with the correct name.
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