Evicted man opens fire, is shot by deputies

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Deputies say they had to shoot a Pinellas County man Tuesday afternoon when he went on a shooting rampage after being evicted.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies were called to help evict Larry Hoad from his apartment on 47th Way N in Lealman. They were later called back to the apartment after an angry Hoad allegedly began firing at three of his neighbors.

"So it appears, after he was served with his eviction papers this morning, that he decided he was going to go hurt people who he thought were causing him problems," explained Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

Deputies confronted Hoad in a nearby alley, where they found him armed with a handgun and a rifle. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Matt McLane said he saw the handgun in Hoad's right hand and the rifle in his left, and told him to drop his weapons. 

Instead, Hoad fired two shots at Sgt. McLane, but missed and hit the McLane's cruiser, the sheriff's office said. Sgt. McLane fired back, hitting Hoad in the torso and in the arm.

Meanwhile, a neighbor hit by Hoad's gunfire was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Hoad was also taken to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Deputies said will be charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling once he is released.

No deputies were hurt during the incident.