ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting spree in south St. Petersburg.

According to authorities, 28-year-old Germine Small, a convicted felon, opened fire at several locations in the area, including a grocery store and the home of an elderly man.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says nearby police were the first to respond to the scene. Gualtieri says when Small saw them, he ran and fired multiple shots at police officers at which point the officers shot at Small, striking him in the head.

Small is currently being treated for those injuries, and was the only one injured in the incident.

Deputies are searching for a motive.

“It’s a puzzle for us why he fired at people at the food mart and why he fired into this particular house,” said Gualtieri. “That’s something we’re going to have to try and figure out over the course of the investigation. This is a guy who just got out of prison. Was he out doing more robberies? Was he trying to hack somebody? Does he have beef with somebody? Again, at this point, I just don’t know.” 

The sheriff’s office says Small had just been released from prison after serving nine years for an attempted robbery and has not been out for even a month.

Gualtieri adds the gun Small was using had the ability to fire 50 rounds.