PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.

What You Need To Know

  • According to officials, Gus Spanoudis, 63, was issued several commands to drop his firearm before Officer Jace Morrow fired his gun

  • Spanoudis was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased

  • Officer Jace Morrow will be placed on a no-duty status as the investigation continues

St. Petersburg Police Officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run in the area of 13th Ave N and 50th Street N early Sunday morning. According to officials, the bumper of the suspect's vehicle was left at the scene with the vehicles' license plate still attached. When officers ran the license plate, the registered address came back.

According to detectives, officers attempted to make contact at the residence multiple times. After several failed attempts, the officers spoke to the vehicle's registered owner, Mary Spanoudis, who currently resides at a local nursing home. Detectives said Mary expressed concern about the well-being of her 63-year-old son, Gus Spanoudis.

Later that morning, officers forced entry into the residence. Upon entry, Spanoudis was located in the back bedroom.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gaultieri says then, suddenly things escalated very quickly 

“As (the officer) is going back and forth between the two subjects, Spandoudis takes a gun out,” he said. “He had it some place either tucked down in the chair or some place, He picked the gun up and pointed it at Officer (Jace) Morrow.”

According to detectives, Spanoudis made suicidal statements and pointed a firearm at Officer Morrow. Officer Morrow issued several commands to drop the firearm before firing at Spanoudis.

Judy Sieburg, who lives in a condo is nearby heard what happened next. “We heard, ‘Drop the gun. Drop the gun. Drop the gun,” she said. “And then we heard 5 or 6 shots.”

Gus’ mother’s concerns for his well-being, coupled with neighbors who knew him, indicate that he suffered both physical and mental disabilities.

“Gus has problems,” Sieburg said, “He had a young man helping him. And he was pushing him around in a wheelchair I saw that a lot.”

Spanoudis was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Next of kin has been notified.

Per the police department's policy, Officer Morrow will be placed on no-duty status.

There is body camera video of the incident and the investigation is still ongoing.