SEMINOLE, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a deputy shot a stabbing suspect Monday evening in Seminole.
It happened just after 6 p.m. on 95th Avenue N off of 141st Street.
According to St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, 44-year-old Amy Jaeger and her 70-year-old boyfriend were in an argument at their home when Jaeger picked up a knife and started stabbing the man.
He ran outside and was welcomed into a neighbor's home as he called out for help.
Holloway said the woman attempted to follow her boyfriend into the home, using a second knife to try to pry open the door.
That's when Pinellas County Deputy Christopher Ryan arrived.
Jaeger ignored the deputy's instructions to drop the knife and instead began coming toward him with the weapon, according to the police chief.
Ryan fired several rounds, shooting Jaeger multiple times. She remains at the hospital in critical condition.
The 70-year-old man is also in the hospital but is stable.
"The deputy was in fear of his life so he discharged his weapon," Chief Holloway said during a news conference Monday night.
Holloway said the couple had been living together in the home for about a year and had no previous domestic calls at this address.
Deputy Ryan has been with the sheriff's office for about three years. He has been placed on administrative leave as is protocol for deadly force investigations.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is leading the investigation into the shooting through the Use Of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force. The task force was established to ensure an agency does not investigate an incident involving its own officers.
"The person’s coming at him with a knife. He’s got a split second to make a decision on what he’s going to do,” Holloway said. "Again, we’ll look at more evidence and we’ll make our decision from that point.”