PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Police say a Pinellas Park shooting suspect was shot and killed by police after a 6 1/2-hour standoff Wednesday.
A police spokesman said they tried to apprehend David Wittman, 47, using non-lethal force, but the attempt failed, and the confrontation escalated, so they had to use lethal force.
Wittman was accused of shooting his wife several times in the parking lot of a business on 66th Street North near 78th Avenue North after a domestic dispute. Police said the woman works there at a physical therapy office.
The woman is in critical condition at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, according to the police.
The man was accused of confronting his wife at work, holding her at gunpoint, bringing her outside and shooting her before running to the nearby house.
Police believed the man was heavily armed inside the house, possibly having an AR-15 and other artillery.
SWAT officers tried negotiating with the man since around 8 a.m. Wednesday.
About 2:23 p.m, officers tried to apprehend Wittman with nonlethal force, but it failed. He retreated back inside the house and armed himself with the handgun.
Shots were fired by two members of the Pinellas Park Police Department SWAT Team and Wittman died from his injuries.
No shots were fired at officers.
The investigation is ongoing. State investigators will investigate the police use of force.
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