'Monster': Tampa 19-year-old kills parents, shoots deputy in shootout, sheriff says

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 19-year-old Tampa man was killed in a shooting after killing both of his parents and injuring a deputy during an overnight standoff, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

“The monster we encountered tonight was not only responsible for our deputy’s injuries, he was also the one who killed his own father and mother,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.

A statement from HCSO says that at 11:09 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a home on Cactus Wren Place in Tampa after a woman called for help, saying her husband had been shot. However, while the caller was on the phone with the dispatcher, several more gunshots were heard over the phone.

When officers arrived, they found the shooter, 19-year-old Christos Alexander, and his mother outside the home.

The sheriff's office said the suspect then shot his mother in the back of the head and fired his gun at law enforcement officers, injuring Deputy Shane McGough, 26.

“[The] the deputies are doing a great job,” the sheriff said. “Their training is starting. They are starting to help. They remove the deputy from this dangerous position and the place where he was exchanging gunfire, put him out of sight of our bad guy and immediately take life-saving measures by applying a tourniquet to his leg so that he does not doesn't bleed.

Five police officers returned fire at the suspect, hitting Alexandre and knocking him to the ground. However, he then crawled inside the house and barricaded himself inside, Chronister said.

The HCSO SWAT team, crisis negotiators and a robot arrived on scene to assist in entering the home. Deputies used their robot to enter the home through the front door.

“Unfortunately, the first person we encounter on the ground is the father,” the sheriff said. “The father had succumbed to his injuries.”

The SWAT team then entered the home and found Alexander dead from his injuries in another room.

According to Chronicler, Alexander lived with his parents. Police were called to the home 10 times before the deadly shooting, mainly for reasons of mental health and violence against his parents.

The sheriff said there was also an active risk protection order against Alexander that led deputies to seize his weapons. Investigators are trying to find out how he obtained the gun used to kill his parents.

“How did this mentally ill person have access to any type of firearm when we took his firearms,” the sheriff said. “They are in our custody. How did he have access to any type of gun to be able to inflict this type of violence tonight?

McGough was hospitalized at St. Joseph Hospital and is expected to recover, officials said.

“Deputy McGough is in good spirits and with his family,” Chronister said. “Surgeons are expected to remove the bullet from his leg later this morning and repair the damage it caused. Please keep him and all deputies involved in the overnight shooting in your thoughts and prayers.

The sheriff's office said the four other deputies involved in this incident were Deputy Brandon Schade, 26; MP Richard Ziegler, 33; Deputy Bjar Atkins, 38; and MP Ciara Moncada, 34.

None of the deputies used deadly force before this incident, officials said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.