Shooting leaves two St. Petersburg officers dead, U.S. Marshal wounded

ST. PETERSBURG -- 

Two St. Petersburg officers were killed and a U.S. Marshal wounded Monday morning in a gunfight with a man hiding in an attic.

"Our community has suffered a loss today," said St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon. "I've been chief for 10 years, almost, and I haven't lost an officer. This is devastating to me. This is a chief's worst nightmare."

Police confirmed the fallen officers as Tom Baitinger, 48, and Jeffrey Yaslowitz, 39.

Harmon said the two "died as heroes."

"I'm holding these things in my hand that belonged to the officers that were handed to me by various officers at the scene - a badge, a ring, a wedding ring, and two bracelets that were on one of the officer's arms and I kinda got these at the scene as people were handing them to me," he said, "and I'm having a hard time letting go of them. These gentlemen I have known for their entire career since they've been with the police department and I consider them friends and I'm going to miss them."

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster told reporters it was a "dark day."

"Tom and Jeff died doing what they loved," he said. "They were cops. Fathers, husbands, sons. But they served the people of this community with distinction, with passion, with resilience, with heroism. They gave their lives today so we can do what we do."

The marshal, who has not been identified yet, was shot twice but is said to be in good condition.

Suspect

St. Petersburg Police spokesman Michael Puetz said the suspect was found dead when officers went into the home Monday afternoon, about six hours after the shootout.

Puetz said officers originally went to the home to seek information from 39-year-old Hydra Lacy Jr.'s wife regarding the whereabouts of Lacy. He was wanted on charges of aggravated battery stemming from domestic violence.

Harmon said authorities had been trying to locate the suspect for weeks.

Lacy's body was removed from the home and positively identified through fingerprints. Police said it's unknown at this time if he died as a result of officer gunfire or if it was self-inflicted.

Lacy, Jr. is the brother of former middleweight boxing champion, Jeff Lacy.

Shooting

The officers went to the home about 7 a.m. Monday to talk to a relative regarding Lacy's whereabouts, but did not expect him to be there.

Due to an order of protection, Lacy was not supposed to be at the residence but when Lacy's wife answered the door, she told police he was in the attic.

Officer Yaslowitz and the U.S. Marshal went after the man, who fired at them from the attic.

Ofc. Yaslowitz was gunned down while in the attic and was later removed when officers threw tear gas and got him out, all while shots were being fired. Yaslowitz was immediately put into an ambulance and rushed to the hospital.

It is believed the suspect may have taken that officer's gun and fired shots with it back at the officers.

Harmon said investigators believe Sgt. Bairinger was shot through the ceiling and hit from the top down, even though he may have had a shield or may have been wearing a vest. He was also rushed to Bayfront Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Harmon estimated a total of between 150 and 200 shots were fired between both the suspect and the officers.

Police knocked a hole in a wall to rescue one officer, but could not find the suspect. So, they used a backhoe to rip down much of the home. The home was later demolished due to the damage.

Fallen officers

Both of the fallen officers were St. Petersburg Police Department veterans.

"These gentlemen I have known for their entire career, since they've been with the police department and I consider them friends and I'm going to miss them," Harmon said.

Baitinger was hired in 1996. He leaves behind a wife, who said her husband "would have done anything for fellow officers." He was promoted to sergeant in 2004.

Yaslowitz was hired in 1999. He started as a patrol officer and was promoted to canine patrol unit, where he worked for the past two years. He leaves behind a wife and three children: two boys, ages 5 and 12, and a girl, age 8.

"Officer Yaslowitz had actually just finished his shift and was headed home when he volunteered to go back by and assist this call for assistance from his fellow officers," Harmon said.

"Our community cannot understand the perils associated with putting a vest on every day and putting on that badge," Foster said. "There is absolutely nothing that is routine in what they do. From the service of a warrant to the interviewing of a witness, to a traffic stop, there is nothing that is routine in this position. And yet these men and women put their lives on the line every single day so that I can go to work and you can go to work and our kids can go to the park and we can watch baseball."

On how officers are dealing with the loss of two of their own, Foster said, "They haven't had a moment to breath." "But I am so honored to be the mayor of this city and to represent over 545 of the finest men and woman that wear the badge."

Donations

Anyone wishing to donate funds to the families of the two fallen officers may send contributions to:
Suncoast Law Enforcement Charities, Inc.
14141 46th Street North, Suite 1205
Clearwater, Florida 33762
727-532-172