02-22-2011, 12:31 PM
suspect still at large. presser at 1300.
ST. PETERSBURG --
A $50,000 reward has been offered in the search for a suspect in the death of St. Petersburg Officer David Crawford.
The FBI, in coordination with the St. Petersburg Police Department, is offering the reward for information leading to the positive identification and arrest of the person who shot Crawford.
Authorities said individuals can report tips to the St. Petersburg Police Department at (727) 892-5000.
ST. PETERSBURG FLA--
For the third time in 30 days, a St. Petersburg police officer has been killed in the line of duty.
Nine officers in Florida have been killed in the line of duty this year – as many as all of last year, according to The Officer Down Memorial Page website.
St. Petersburg Officer David S. Crawford was shot late Monday night after responding to a call in downtown St. Petersburg. He later died at Bayfront Medical Center. He was 46.
The shooting happened on Second Avenue South at Eighth Street South.
Police said a citizen reported a "suspicious person" at 10:30 p.m. The caller said they saw a man with a brick and thought he was going to break into something.
Two officers, Crawford and Ofc. Donald Ziglar were dispatched to the scene. They arrived at 10:34 p.m. A few minutes after that, Ziglar reported shots had been fired and said an officer was down. Ziglar was not injured. Crawford, a 25-year veteran, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Police Chief: Officer shot "multiple times"
At a press conference held at 2:15 a.m., Police Chief Chuck Harmon said the officer was shot "multiple times at close range" and returned fire. Harmon said it was unknown if the suspect was injured.
Harmon did not address if Crawford was wearing a bullet-proof vest.
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster paused before he spoke at the press conference.
"I'm not going to lie. This city has been through hell. It took 30 years to lose an officer in the line of duty. And within 30 days it happened. Again," he said. "Cities don't prepare for this. Departments don't prepare for this. But what I can assure the citizens of St. Petersburg is that the officers prepare for this every day."
Ofc. Crawford is survived by his wife, Donna and a 24-year-old daughter, Amanda.
Police are still looking for the suspect, described as a black male, between 18 and 20 years old, wearing a black hoodie. The suspect was last seen jumping over a fence.
"We have a killer on the loose," Harmon said.
ST. PETERSBURG --
A $50,000 reward has been offered in the search for a suspect in the death of St. Petersburg Officer David Crawford.
The FBI, in coordination with the St. Petersburg Police Department, is offering the reward for information leading to the positive identification and arrest of the person who shot Crawford.
Authorities said individuals can report tips to the St. Petersburg Police Department at (727) 892-5000.
ST. PETERSBURG FLA--
For the third time in 30 days, a St. Petersburg police officer has been killed in the line of duty.
Nine officers in Florida have been killed in the line of duty this year – as many as all of last year, according to The Officer Down Memorial Page website.
St. Petersburg Officer David S. Crawford was shot late Monday night after responding to a call in downtown St. Petersburg. He later died at Bayfront Medical Center. He was 46.
The shooting happened on Second Avenue South at Eighth Street South.
Police said a citizen reported a "suspicious person" at 10:30 p.m. The caller said they saw a man with a brick and thought he was going to break into something.
Two officers, Crawford and Ofc. Donald Ziglar were dispatched to the scene. They arrived at 10:34 p.m. A few minutes after that, Ziglar reported shots had been fired and said an officer was down. Ziglar was not injured. Crawford, a 25-year veteran, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Police Chief: Officer shot "multiple times"
At a press conference held at 2:15 a.m., Police Chief Chuck Harmon said the officer was shot "multiple times at close range" and returned fire. Harmon said it was unknown if the suspect was injured.
Harmon did not address if Crawford was wearing a bullet-proof vest.
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster paused before he spoke at the press conference.
"I'm not going to lie. This city has been through hell. It took 30 years to lose an officer in the line of duty. And within 30 days it happened. Again," he said. "Cities don't prepare for this. Departments don't prepare for this. But what I can assure the citizens of St. Petersburg is that the officers prepare for this every day."
Ofc. Crawford is survived by his wife, Donna and a 24-year-old daughter, Amanda.
Police are still looking for the suspect, described as a black male, between 18 and 20 years old, wearing a black hoodie. The suspect was last seen jumping over a fence.
"We have a killer on the loose," Harmon said.