• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

2 Deputies shot (UPDATED)

Shadow said:
Two (2) Hillsborough County Deputies were shot this morning in an armed confrontation with the suspect in a triple homicide near Carrollwood.
(Link Below)
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/06/hillsborough-de.html

I've known Ray since he was a rookie. The other one I'm not that famialiar with but understand he's in rough shape.

Prayers for them, thier families and extended families in law enforcement.
Click to expand...

Seems to be quite frequent as of late.
Our Thoughts & Prayers
 
The boys and girls in blue or green are out there putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and crap like this happens. Gordon, the deputy that was shot in the torso, did the bullet go through his vest or just an unprotected area?
 
The initial report (internet) stated a through and through torso shot. I spoke with a close friend at the department who said the round entered the thigh, then exited the abdomen. I'm guessing and didn't want to get too nosey, but it souunds like a smaller calibre round striking the femur or something then traversing to the abdomen.

According to my friend, it nicked the bladder, but he is apparently going to be ok:thumbsup:

Ray is one of the moist laid back guys on earth. If this maggot had given him a chance, regardless of the charge, Ray would have treated him like a total gentlemen. We've worked on the same squad for years and around each other for much longer.

I still see him off and on in the area (works around my neighborhood).

I'm praying for a total recovery for both of them. Hopefully, this will convince Ray to take the drop $$ and haul arse!:thumbsup:
 
Jim, thanks for tha article. Not exactly the locations that my friend at the department told me for the POI on Lentz , but actually sounds like the shot may have been better this way?

Couple of points the article brings out:

That's when Deputy Malachi McCoy ran up and shot the gunman in the head, killing him, Callaway said.
Click to expand...

That's the way it should be done! Dep. McCoy deserves (and I'm sure will eventually be awarded) a commendation!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

When the bullets were counted, investigators said deputies had fired more than 50 rounds.

That's 49 too many!!!!:(
This is an interesting commentary though. It proves a point.

I've seen Ray shoot.

As an instructor, I've had him on the range on numerous occasions over the years. He shoots well:thumbsup::thumbsup:

We've always tried to teach "stress shooting" and instill as much stress as possible in the sutdent/shooter, but there's no way possible to immitate a real life, I'm gonna die right here, shooting:NoNo:

Stress is a MOFO:(

They think Bello was hit multiple times before McCoy fired the fatal shot...
"He was just impervious to their shooting," said witness Mark Vennett, 49, of Tampa. "He was like a crazed animal."
Click to expand...

Drugs? Rage? In this case, who knows? I've dealt with both and it's not easy to stop them.
Both can and will provide one with "superhuman" strength and fortitude. Another many years ago was shot 7 times from approximately 15' out to point blank range with a .45 semi auto. Still had enough fight left in him to violently attack an officer and continue to fight until he (the suspect) bled out:(

Glad McCoy put an end to him before he could hurt anyone else!

The series of events leading up to this were pretty predictable. Foreclosure, domestic disputes, pending divorce....it's a pattern.

Financial issues will bring out the worse in people and this type of stress can and will cause some people to snap. It's going to get worse beofe it gets better out here:thumbsdown:

On a final note, R.I.P. to the Firefighter. And God bless those paramedics.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Those guys and gals are worth thier weight in GOLD!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
I was able to speak with Ray Wilson this morning. He's home and doing fine and even says he still hasn't had any real pain from the gunshot would to the arm:thumbsup:

He's very blessed in that the suspect (now the deceased) was wrestling with him and trying to take his weapon. He did what he was trained to do and held on to the weapon through out the struggle and pain.

The 3rd deputy, we'll just say, put a quick end to the suspects action:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Dep Lentz is resting under guard at a local hospital and is according to Ray, is expected to make a full recovery.The rounds nicked his kidney and tailbone (never could remember the medical definition).

During our conversation, he confirmed that he recalled so many things from his past including things from his childhood (he's my age), and at one point, saw his deceased mother and father:(

He said he was ready for whatever God had planned for him, but wasn't about to give up the fight!!!

I passed on everyones well wished and congratulations for a job well done:icon_cheers::icon_cheers::icon_cheers:
 
Glad to hear they're doing well. We train and train and train for these things and something always seems to go wrong. I was thinking about it yesterday while I was on shift, how do you let that happen, but every scenario is different. We can just try to be ready....I've seen firsthand how officers get tunnelvision and deviate from training/policy when it hits the fan!
 
85vette said:
Glad to hear they're doing well. We train and train and train for these things and something always seems to go wrong. I was thinking about it yesterday while I was on shift, how do you let that happen, but every scenario is different. We can just try to be ready....I've seen firsthand how officers get tunnelvision and deviate from training/policy when it hits the fan!
Click to expand...

Me too man:(

In this case, it appears they did things pretty well textbook. This POS just wasn't going to let it go down with out a fight:(

He was hell bent on killing at least one deputy if not all of them, evidenced by his charge at Ray and attempt to wrestle the weapon from him.

You're right too. We all train for these scenarios but when it hits the fan....

I've been in the struggle for the weapon before. Armed robbery suspect, repeat offender. Wasn't going back to jail.

We fought for what felt like an hour (probably <5 minutes), all the time, he was trying to take my weapon.

Hindsight...should have shot him point blank in the chest. Not sure to this day why I didn't?

Damned! Hindsight! Always 20/20:nonod:

Just glad they're going to recover. All you folks still on the job, stay safe out there and watch out for each other:thumbsup:
 
Unfortunately I along with several hundred other firefighters will attend a full honors fire department funeral for Captain Chris Artigas of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.
Captain Artigas was one of the initial victims at the home where the shootings began.
I did not know Captain Artigas personally but just like the law enforcement community, it is a family and when one loss is encountered it sends a shockwave through the entire family.
I am relieved that the LEO's are recovering and doing well. At least they were able to take the necessary actions required to put an end to the ordeal.
Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and if you are in North Tampa on Wednesday and see a procession of fire apparatus, have a little respect and pull off the roadway. Not any people taqke the time to pullover anymore when a funeral procession drives by.
Thanks to all for your support.
 
329of1k said:
Unfortunately I along with several hundred other firefighters will attend a full honors fire department funeral for Captain Chris Artigas of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.
Captain Artigas was one of the initial victims at the home where the shootings began.
I did not know Captain Artigas personally but just like the law enforcement community, it is a family and when one loss is encountered it sends a shockwave through the entire family.
I am relieved that the LEO's are recovering and doing well. At least they were able to take the necessary actions required to put an end to the ordeal.
Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and if you are in North Tampa on Wednesday and see a procession of fire apparatus, have a little respect and pull off the roadway. Not any people taqke the time to pullover anymore when a funeral procession drives by.
Thanks to all for your support.
Click to expand...

Andy,

You guys have my total respect and admiration. LEO and the FF/PAramedic community share a relatively close bond. We've always had numerous FD members sho up at our funerals and I've even seen ladder trucks with banners hung from them.

You guys and gals are rtuly some of America's heros:usa_flag:. There's no way in hell I'm doing some of the stuff you guys do (I think you and I talked about that once at Fermans:thumbsup:).

Think about it? Who ran to the scene? The Firfighters/Paramedics:thumbsup:

Capt. Artigas is in my/our thoughts and prayers and a salute will go out to him as his procession passes by.

I was also informed on Sunday by a friend and another FF that the other young lady killed in the incident was the sister of Ray Lopez, another County FF:(

If this is true, then my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as well.

R.I.P. Capt:usa_flag::(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top