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Deadly hit-and-run suspect shot & killed by police, 3 officers hurt after pursuit ends on I-275: TPD

By and
Updated  January 27, 2025 12:46pm EST
Tampa
FOX 13 News

Deadly hit-and-run suspect killed by police

Ariel Plasencia reports

The Brief

    • Tampa police officers shot and killed a suspect in a deadly series of hit-and-runs following a pursuit late Sunday night.
    • The pursuit ended with a PIT maneuver on I-275 northbound moments before shots were fired.
    • The 48-year-old suspect, Jeremiah Bailey, died, along with one of the pedestrians who was hit, according to TPD.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Police Department released video of the pursuit that ended with shots fired on I-275 late Sunday night.

Jeremiah Bailey, 48, was shot and killed after the pursuit. He is the suspect in a series of hit-and-runs that turned deadly.

Courtesy: Florida Department of Corrections

Confrontation leads to hit-and-runs

Timeline:

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said it started around 8:30 p.m. Sunday with a dispute at Dollar General off Dale Mabry Hwy. and Interbay Blvd. in South Tampa.

Bercaw said Bailey used his car to block 47-year-old Eric Archield’s car, then moved his car and followed the victim to a friend's home near W Meadow St. and S. MacDill Ave., where Bailey hit the victim with his car before taking off.

Deadly hit-and-run suspect shot & killed by police

Tampa police officers shot and killed a suspect in a deadly series of hit-and-runs following a pursuit late Sunday night. Video courtesy of TPD.

Archield suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, police said.

More pedestrians hit

According to TPD, Bailey then intentionally hit Jesse Rickett, 43, on MacDill Ave. near Interbay Blvd. Rickett suffered head injuries and is listed in critical but stable condition at the hospital.

Minutes later, they say he purposely hit a man who was walking on the 5800 block of Interbay Blvd., police said. He later died.

Then around 10:15 p.m., a fourth hit-and-run was reported in the area of Westshore Blvd. and Lemon St. The man who was hit there was conscious and alert at the scene, TPD said.

None of the victims knew Bailey.

The pursuit and shooting

What we know:

According to Bercaw, officers pursued Bailey onto I-275 northbound, where police executed a PIT maneuver near the Howard Ave./Armenia Ave. exit.

Police said Bailey refused to come out of the car and appeared to reach for something, leading to officers firing shots. Bailey died at the scene.

Tampa police shot and killed Jeremiah Bailey after a pursuit ended on I-275 late Sunday night. (Courtesy: TPD.)

Tampa police shot and killed Jeremiah Bailey after a pursuit ended on I-275 late Sunday night. (Courtesy: TPD.)

Three officers were injured, Bercaw said, and are expected to survive. Their injuries appeared to be caused by debris and not a direct gunshot, according to TPD.

Police said Bailey had an extensive, violent criminal history and was released from prison in October 2022.

The northbound side of I-275 was shut down for hours near the Howard Ave./Armenia Ave. exit early Monday, but the interstate has since reopened.

Northbound traffic on I-275 was blocked early Monday after a deadly officer-involved shooting. (Courtesy: FDOT.)

Northbound traffic on I-275 was blocked early Monday after a deadly officer-involved shooting. (Courtesy: FDOT.)

What they're saying:

"Our thoughts are with the family of the man who was killed by the suspect tonight," Bercaw said during a news conference early Monday.

Bercaw also spoke about the injured officers.

"Thankfully, their injuries are not life-threatening. Every day our officers go out, put themselves in danger. And tonight was just another example of their heroic efforts in ending this violent rampage of a suspect," Bercaw said.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw spoke at a news conference early Monday.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw spoke at a news conference early Monday.

Injured officers

  • Sgt. Joe Ltief, 10 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Rachel Carr, 5 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Joseph Barry, 4 years with Tampa Police

All three injured officers have been treated and released from the hospital.

What we don't know:

TPD has not yet released the name of the man who was hit and killed by Bailey.

The backstory:

Bailey's criminal history includes battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on an EMT, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

What's next:

Seven officers who fired their weapons are on leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates, which is standard procedure.

  • Officer Algenis Maceo, 8 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Jacob Petit, 7 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Andrew Haase, 5 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Bryan Velazquez, 5 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Erik Lopez, 4 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Santiago Alzate-Castro, 2 years with Tampa Police
  • Officer Nathan Berry, 1 year with Tampa Police

TPD says they will continue investigating each hit-and-run incident to see what might have led up to Bailey’s actions.

The Source: This story was written using information provided by the Tampa Police Department.

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