A shooting involving a wanted suspect led to a large law enforcement presence outside a Brooksville Publix Friday, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the deputy-involved shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. on Friday, March 21 after officials received information that a wanted suspect with a violent history was at the shopping center off Cortez Boulevard.
“I’ve been told by my captain in charge of investigations that we were actually following this individual and followed him to this location behind me,” Nienhuis told reporters later Friday. “He went into the Barbeque store behind me, Dickey’s, and was actually purchasing food.”
Several deputies converged on the area, prompting the suspect, ZB, to try to flee, the sheriff said. According to officials, the Bowles is believed to have fired shots at one of the deputies, who then returned fire.
Nienhuis said B was struck by the deputy’s gunfire but continued running for about a quarter of a mile. He was chased toward a mobile home sales lot, where he was apprehended with the help of a K-9 team.
In addition to a gunshot wound, officials said B was bit by one of their K-9s. The sheriff said B was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries, which were believed to be non-life threatening.
“He is really fortunate he is not deceased because if you point a gun at a deputy, we are going to shoot at you,” Nienhuis said. “If people want to fight us, they need to fight us in court, not on the street.”
No deputies were injured in the shooting, according to officials.
B has 21 felony convictions in the state of Florida and was wanted out of Pasco County for attempted armed robbery and felony possession of a firearm, officials said.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office was also in the process of getting a warrant for B’ arrest in connection with a shooting that happened in the county about a week ago.
Nienhuis said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was contacted and will be taking over the investigation.
“Thus far, everything looks — it’s going to be very cut and dry with this particular one,” the sheriff said.
No additional details were immediately available.
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Source: wfla
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