Carjacking suspect pointed unloaded BB gun at Pinellas deputies before he was fatally shot, chief says

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (tel:18002738255). Or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).

CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential emotional support.

In the days after an armed carjacking suspect was shot and killed by Pinellas County deputies, investigators learned he pointed an unloaded BB gun – they say looked like a real gun – at the law enforcement officer, leading to a total of 59 rounds fired in his direction.

Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter revealed the new details Wednesday morning, nearly one week after the deputy-involved shooting. The police chief said the man, 43-year-old Robert Hubbard, not only had a criminal history involving bank robberies and served in state prison twice, but he has a history of depression and abusing cocaine and alcohol.

Aerial screenshot from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office helicopter footage of the deputy-involved shooting that took place June 30, 2022.

"He’s been depressed since he was age 15," Chief Slaughter said, "lost his job in 2008 that led to a downward spiral. He had multiple suicide attempts. He cut his own neck."

On Wednesday, June 29, Hubbard's relatives received "disturbing messages" and alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He said one of the messages noted he committed a bank robbery but investigators have not found where it may have occurred.

The messages also showed Hubbard expected a "nice shootout" and wrote, "I'm killing cops," according to officials.

That night, he stole a golf cart and later took a vehicle at gunpoint, police said, and was driving that car when he tried to rob someone in Trinity that same day, police said at the time.

Thursday, officers got a tip that the vehicle was in Clearwater. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies caught up with Hubbard, but he took off. There were multiple sightings and attempts to stop Hubbard that day, including an additional sighting near Countryside Mall around 2:30 p.m. Chief Slaughter said Hubbard was likely scoping out parking lots to steal another vehicle.

Deputies began pursuing the vehicle but said Hubbard was driving erratically and dangerously.  Meanwhile, dispatchers told deputies that the suspect "wishes to have a shootout with law enforcement."

Officials said Hubbard drove to Safety Harbor, where deputies tried to use stop sticks to burst the vehicle's tires, but the suspect kept going. When he got to Philippe Parkway and Enterprise Road, one of the deputies used the PIT maneuver.

During Chief Slaughter's press conference, footage from the sheriff's office helicopter and the deputy's dashcam and body camera footage played. The video showed the deputy bumping the rear of the stolen vehicle with his patrol car. 

Screenshot from a Pinellas County deputy's dashcam footage showing Robert Hubbard exiting his vehicle following the PIT maneuver.

Hubbard was seen exiting the driver's side of the vehicle and quickly aiming what appeared to be a weapon at the deputies. All four fired their weapons. One of the deputies fired his weapon through his windshield.

"He exited that vehicle and brandished that firearm so quickly," the police chief said. "The deputy was forced to fire through the windshield to protect himself. He didn’t even have time to get out of the car."

During the investigation, officials determined Hubbard's weapon wasn't real.

"I wanted to point out that, had that firearm been real…there’s no information that indicates this date that these deputies had any other option," Chief Slaughter explained. "This person was on a depression crime spree. There were certainly victims…within two days. It was important that he be stopped."

"I think all these deputies displayed admiral courage. I will say we still have some leads that we are finishing up, it will be some time before we make a final determination," he added, "but with the evidence we show you today, it overwhelmingly shows the deputies had to take this person into custody…they were in a scenario…of needing to defend themselves."

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said all but one deputy has returned to work.

"All but one are back to work. As long as they are cleared by a department psychologist…I leave it up to the deputies," he said. "One of the deputies wanted a little more time. We’re going to support the cops when they do the right thing."

"Anytime you have to take a life, it’s a hard thing, it’s a bad thing," he added. "Overall, they are doing well."

The sheriff noted there was additional footage that was not released, showing the aftermath of the deadly shooting. He said after checking that Hubbard would harm the deputies, the law enforcement officers "immediately started life-saving measures."

"This is a sad situation. This guy went on a mission. He knew what he was going to do," Sheriff Gualtieri said. "Thank goodness that wasn’t a real gun because [the deputy] would’ve taken a round."

If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (tel:18002738255). Or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).

CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential emotional support.

This story has been updated to reflect the item pointed at the deputy was an unloaded BB gun. The story previously stated the item was a "fake weapon."