RUSKIN, Fla. — Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Thursday that two deputies were shot in Ruskin and that the suspect who is alleged to have shot them is now dead.
It happened on West Shell Point Road near U.S. 41.
ABOVE: Spectrum Bay News 9 team coverage| BELOW: Watch Sheriff Chad Chronister’s news conference
Sheriff Chronister said at an afternoon news conference that the suspect was 34-year-old Chris Dmuchowski.
The incident started Wednesday night when Chronister says Dmuchowski took his ex-girlfriend hostage inside a home all night.
Chronister says that she was tied up, and that Dmuchowski was threatening to kill her.
The woman managed to escape Thursday morning by telling him that she had an appointment she couldn’t miss.
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She went to authorities at the office’s District 4 location, and that’s when deputies began investigating.
“Deputies had information that he was armed and alone,” the office said in a news release.
They first went in with a drone, but Chronister said the suspect tried to leave, so deputies had to get involved.
The first deputy got there and was shot in the face, the sheriff said. The next deputy got to the scene and was shot in the neck before he even got out of his car.
The third deputy shot Dmuchowski, and the suspect was confirmed dead at Tampa General Hospital.
Chronister says the deputies made this mission a success.
“Our suspect ambushed our deputies from the moment they arrived on scene. He was intent on taking the life of a deputy sheriff,” he said.
The injured deputies were identified as Sopharmony Muon and Colton Daniels. The deputy who shot the suspect was identified as Sgt. Harrison Bashner.
The deputies were being treated at Tampa General Hospital. Chronister said he was able to speak to each deputy before they were transported.
Deputy Muon has been with HCSO for two years. Deputy Daniels has been with HCSO for four years. Sgt. Bashner has been with HCSO for 28 years.
Dmuchowski, according to authorities, was a convicted felon.
“This suspect’s reign of terror ended today because of the training, bravery, and heroic actions of these deputies,” Chronister said. “I want to thank the deputies who immediately responded after hearing desperate calls for help. I also want to recognize our dispatchers.”
Chronister said there was no threat to public safety.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reviewed body worn camera video and drone video released by the sheriff’s office, which confirms the sheriff’s description of what happened.
You can view Chronister’s Thursday afternoon news conference below.
