A suspect in January’s mass shooting in Lakeland, Florida is dead after a car chase with officers on Monday, February 6.
Officers were surveilling Alex Greene, 21, on Monday afternoon at his home in Eagle Lake, Florida.
According to Police Chief Sam Taylor, officers were hoping to take Greene into custody on an outstanding burglary arrest warrant. That would give them the opportunity to interview him about the January 30 Florida mass shooting that left 11 people injured. Chief Taylor said police believed that Greene was involved in the Lakeland shooting.
While being watched, Greene entered a white Chevrolet pickup and tried to get away. The police began a chase along a busy road. An officer identified as Captain Eric Harper pursued the suspect in his unmarked vehicle.
Greene led officers on a 15-minute pursuit until Captain Harper successfully did a pit maneuver, bringing Greene’s vehicle to a stop.
Greene jumped out of the car and started running. When he realized he couldn’t outrun the officer, he ran toward a restaurant and stole a car from a woman standing on the street.
Captain Harper pointed his gun at Greene and demanded him to stop, but Greene drove the car straight toward Captain Harper, causing Harper to shoot at the car six times, with at least one of the bullets hitting Greene.
Greene’s car did not immediately stop. The driver hit another car in the parking lot and eventually crashed into a building. Police pulled him from the vehicle and administered first aid. They took him to a hospital, where doctors declared Greene dead.
Sheriff Judd said the suspected shooter had a long rap sheet with 10 previous felony charges, including battery on a police officer, weapons possession, fleeing from police, and resisting arrest.
No other suspect has been arrested in connection with the Lakeland mass shooting.