DATE/TIME: Thursday December 24, 2020 @ 3:06 PM
SUBJECT: black male, mid-40’s
LOCATION: 2904 Melburne Blvd
BUSINESS: Rodeway Inn
DETAILS: An armed male barricaded himself, alone, in one of the rooms of the Rodeway Inn. Tampa Police originally responded to the report of a disturbance just after 3:00 PM on Dec 24, where there was a physical altercation that escalated to gunshots being fired by the subject.
Officers arrived to find the subject had barricaded himself inside the room, still armed. Officers immediately attempted to de-escalate the subject and negotiate with him to come out of the room. The subject has fired on officers multiple times. Thankfully, no officers have been injured.
Tampa Police Negotiators are continuing to work toward the goal of the subject dropping his weapon and surrendering.
This is an evolving situation. Updates will be provided as they become available.