Pinellas deputy shoots, kills suspect

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

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The incident happened near the Grey Oaks subdivision entrance.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man after he fired at them Wednesday morning near the entrance of the Grey Oaks subdivision on East Lake Road in Tarpon Springs.

The man killed in the shooting was identified as 34-year-old James Guy Lambert of New Port Richey.

The incident began when deputies were called to investigate a report of a suspicious person running in and out of traffic and screaming at vehicles near the Grey Oaks subdivision entrance.

"I figured he was on drugs or something," said Aaron Watkins, who saw Lambert acting strangely before the deputies showed up. "He was going to hurt somebody. He was jumping out in front of cars."

A resident of the Grey Oaks subdivision flagged down Deputy David Webb, 47, and told him that someone was firing shots just inside the neighborhood.

"The deputy then drove across the road to investigate the report and was immediately fired upon by someone in the wood line," said Sgt. Jim Bordner of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Webb's car was disabled by gunshots from a .40-caliber Glock handgun that shattered the windshield and hit the hood. He called for backup and returned fire. Cpl. Kent Johnson, 49, arrived within moments.

Gunshots hit Webb's patrol car.

"That deputy was armed with an issue .223-caliber carbine rifle," Bordner said. "Both deputies were being fired upon. The suspect reloaded a second round and the deputy with the rifle (Johnson) fired from 80 yards, striking the suspect."

Lambert was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators don't know what Lambert's motive may have been.

Webb, a 21-year veteran of the sheriff's office, and Johnson, a 27-year veteran, are on paid administrative leave.

No citizens and neither deputy were injured during the exchange of gunfire. A bullet fired from the suspect's gun struck a vehicle occupied by a babysitter and a young child exiting the subdivision, hitting the right rear tire.

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