A 65-year-old woman was shot by police after allegedly waving a gun and ramming vehicles during a high-speed pursuit in Florida. The suspect, identified as Marina DeFilippo, sustained critical injuries on April 1. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office released body cams and surveillance footage of the incident, which sparked a full-scale investigation by the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force.
According to Fox 13, DeFilippo first came to the attention of the police when she allegedly ran a red light. She was pulled over by a deputy around 1:30 a.m. on 113th St. N and Park Blvd. for the offence. During the traffic stop, DeFilippo reportedly made bizarre statements claiming she was with the “CIA” and was even heard speaking in Russian before she sped away from the scene.
The suspect’s erratic behaviour triggered an intense police pursuit. Deputies initially attempted to stop the elderly woman by deploying stopsticks. Rather than stopping, DeFilippo continued her attempt to evade the police with what appeared to be flat tyres.
The intense police chase went on until DeFilippo was driving along Gulf Blvd, where she was intercepted by Indian Shores Police. The news outlet cited investigators, who said that the suspect reportedly pointed a gun at officers when she was cornered. After brandishing the fire alarm, she rammed a patrol car and sped off.
Another deputy attempted to halt the suspect by using a PIT manoeuvre, forcing her vehicle to slow down. Fox 13 said that officers resorted to non-lethal measures at that point, firing bean bag rounds and pepper balls. However, the suspect reportedly rammed multiple vehicles in another attempt to escape the scene.
With the situation spiralling out of control, seven deputies opened fire on her. DeFilippo was shot at least three times. A deputy was also reported to have sustained minor injuries during the vehicular ramming.
The seven deputies, identified as Lt. Thomas Montgomery; K9 Corporal Justin Fineberg; Corporal Brian Hirshman; Corporal Tyler Reidy; Deputy Melanie Leib; Deputy Kyle Kilian; and Deputy Alberto Ortiz, have since been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway confirmed that DeFilippo is facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of fleeing and eluding, per the report.
