ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A suspect is hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after an officer-involved shooting in St. Petersburg on Saturday evening.
Officials say the suspect, 28-year-old Germaine Small, began shooting at people outside of Shadyside Meat and Grocery around 5:30 p.m. He then traveled south and fired into a residence on 40th Ave. S.
Small continued on foot to 17th Ave. S, where a St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) officer was responding to 911 calls related to the incident. When he spotted the officer, Small attempted to flee through a nearby yard before coming back to 17th Ave.
That's when he came into contact with SPPD Officer Andre Sousa. He fired at him twice before Officer Sousa returned fire, striking Small in the face.
After he was shot, Small dropped his gun and ran across the street where he was taken into custody by other officers.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Small had just been released from state prison on March 2. He served a nine-year sentence for armed robbery.
Small used a 9mm glock with a 50-round drum attached to it. It is not clear how he obtained the gun.
Officer Sousa was not injured, and Sheriff Gualtieri says no other citizens or officers were injured or shot.
Charges against Small have not yet been announced.
The incident will be investigated by the Pinellas Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force.