Two Dead Following Officer-Involved Shooting: Police Chief

Sarasota FL

06 February, 2021

8:31 PM

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Updated: 10 p.m. SARASOTA, FL — The investigation of a Saturday evening officer-involved shooting in the 2400 block of Bay Street is underway, Sarasota police shared on Facebook. Police responded to reports of shots fired in the area around 6:30 p.m., Sarasota police Chief Jim Rieser said at a news conference. Witnesses told police that they heard shots fired and woman screaming, he added. Rieser said that an armed man at the scene shot and killed a woman in front of the responding officer. The officer shot at the man in response, the chief said. The suspect is also dead following the incident, though it's "unknown if he was killed by the officer or a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Rieser said. The officer is uninjured and has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Sarasota newsletters and real-time email alerts. "Obviously, I've been here 29 years. You don't want anyone hurt, citizens or the officers," the chief said. "I love everybody at the Sarasota Police Department. These are hard-working men and women, both our civilians and our sworn staff. This is a tragedy that occurred tonight. This investigation just occurred three hours ago. You have to let us do our thing." The Sarasota Police Department's last officer-involved shooting happened in April 2018, the Rieser said. The department's officers aren't currently equipped with cameras, but it will launch a body-worn camera program later this year.