A Stock Island, FL man is in jail after he shot at a sheriff’s deputy following a police chase and was later identified as Timothy Thomas and decided to claim that the police shot at him first although Thomas shot first as shown in a released video.
The dash-cam video clearly shows him pointing a gun at the deputy before fire was exchanged and Mr. Thomas has been charged with attempted murder, possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, property damage, burglar, and other charges.
While the incident happened in October 2015, the video has been released on August 30, 2016 by Police Center, a group that reports on police news and pursuits.
According to Local 10 News, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said Thomas shot Deputy Josh Gordon as he tried to apprehend Thomas, who was wanted for questioning by Key West police on suspicion of armed robbery.
The bullet lodged in Gordon’s bulletproof vest, likely saving his life. Gordon was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
“He’s just lucky to be alive, and we’re blessed and thankful that he was wearing a bulletproof vest,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay said. “You know, 2 inches left or right or up or down could’ve made a difference on living or dying.”