Lee County, Fla. — A murder suspect was taken into custody Wednesday evening after a chaotic pursuit and standoff shut down all lanes of Interstate 75 near Alico Road for hours, according to the Florida Highway Patrol and Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said troopers received a Be On The Lookout alert around 12:30 p.m. about a man wanted in connection with a homicide in St. Petersburg.
The suspect, driving a pickup truck, was believed to be suicidal. Troopers located him in Lee County and tried to pull him over, but he took off, leading law enforcement on a pursuit down the interstate.
Troopers eventually used a PIT maneuver near the southbound Exit 128 area at Alico Road, forcing the truck to a stop. Instead of surrendering, the man barricaded himself inside the vehicle as FHP troopers and Lee County deputies surrounded him with weapons drawn.
Chaos on the Highway
Video and photos from the scene showed officers standing outside their patrol cars, guns raised, as gunfire broke out during the standoff. Drivers caught in the backup described a frightening scene, with several saying they turned around on the median or used nearby exits to escape the area as heavily armed units, including a SWAT vehicle, rushed to the scene.
Social media posts from people near the area described seeing patrol vehicles racing down Highway 41 and multiple cars chasing the suspect’s truck before it was stopped. Some witnesses said they were unaware of what was unfolding until they saw the flashing lights and law enforcement response ahead of them.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody and transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Authorities confirmed no officers were hurt during the encounter, and no children were found inside the suspect’s vehicle, addressing rumors that had circulated online. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the use of force involved in the incident, standard procedure whenever a law enforcement shooting occurs.
Victim Identified as St. Petersburg City Employee
St. Petersburg police said the shooting stemmed from a domestic-related incident earlier that day. A 47-year-old woman, described as a mother of four and a city sanitation worker, was shot and killed around 12:30 p.m. while sitting in a work vehicle. Investigators said the victim and suspect knew each other.
The interstate reopened after being closed for several hours, though delays lingered into the evening as crews cleared the scene and diverted traffic. Officials continue to urge drivers to check road condition updates through FL511 before traveling through the area.
The suspect’s name has not yet been released as the investigation continues.
