Two Bradenton police officers were injured after a man allegedly reversed into them at speed while attempting to leave a Florida convenience store, triggering a multi-agency pursuit and an investigation into an officer-involved shooting.
The incident happened at about 3.22am on Sunday, November 8, when officers responded to reports of a man with a firearm causing a disturbance at a Wawa on First Street East in Bradenton.
Police said the man, identified as 35-year-old Dejerrian D Murray, was getting into a vehicle when he reversed into the officers. A senior patrol officer suffered a traumatic brain injury and remained in intensive care, while a second officer suffered a lower-body injury and was later released from hospital.
Two other Bradenton officers witnessed the collision and fired towards the vehicle as Murray drove away, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Suspect arrested after Sunshine Skyway pursuit
Murray was pursued by Bradenton police, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol as he travelled towards the Sunshine Skyway Bridge before returning towards the city.
The chase ended when the vehicle crashed at the junction of First Street and 10th Avenue West, a short distance from the Wawa. Murray sustained injuries described by police as non-life-threatening and was taken to hospital before being released into custody.
He was then booked into the Manatee County jail and faces two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, as well as charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police at high speed, hit-and-run involving serious bodily injury, hit-and-run involving injury and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.
Murray also faces charges of violating probation and resisting arrest without violence. The allegations have not been tested in court.
State agency investigates police shooting
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting involving the two officers who fired at the vehicle. The inquiry remains active, and police said further information would be released when appropriate.
Bradenton police spokesperson Meredith Censullo said the original call appeared to involve an attempt to calm a situation involving customers and employees, but the encounter escalated rapidly.
“Our mission was simply to de-escalate and make sure everything was OK,” she said. “Unfortunately, that’s not what occurred here.”
Police said the department was supporting the injured officers, as well as the two officers involved in the shooting.
