Officer-involved shooting in St. Pete leaves one dead

Sunday, June 8, 2008

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The shooting occurred outside of a graduation party at the Shining Light Masonic Lodge.

ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- One person is dead after authorities say he was shot by an officer late Saturday night.

According to reports, Javon Maurice Dawson, 17, was standing in the street in front of a graduation party in St. Petersburg with a large crowd of young adults, who had filled the street in front of the building. Officers were attempting to disperse the crowd when they heard gun shots.

According to reports, Officer Terrance Nemeth saw Dawson standing in the street, firing a handgun. He said he "verbally challenged" Dawson several times to put the gun down. Police said that, when Dawson refused to comply, Nemeth fired his handgun and shot him. Dawson briefly ran, then collapsed and died at the scene.

The homicide unit and the internal affairs division of the St. Petersburg Police Department are investigating the incident, as is the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office.