Tampa teen kills parents, shoots police officer, dies in shooting

A Florida teenager fatally shot his father and mother and injured a police officer before officers killed him in a shootout, authorities say.

Christos Themelis Jr., 19, killed his father in their Tampa home Saturday night, then killed his mother outside the home and opened fire on responding officers, wounding a sheriff's deputy of Hillsborough County, Shane McGough.

“Watching this situation unfold is truly frightening,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “There is no doubt that the quick response of our deputies mitigated the threat to this community. »

McGough, 26, was shot in the leg and underwent surgery, authorities said. He is expected to make a full recovery in about three months.

Themelis' mother, Rebecca Ann Themelis, called 911 around 11 p.m. Saturday, telling dispatchers that her son had just shot his father, 51-year-old Christos Themelis Sr.

During the call, dispatchers heard more gunshots in the background and cops quickly responded to the scene.

McGough was one of the first officers to arrive at the home and saw Themelis holding Rebecca, 48, at gunpoint in the front yard. The officers tried for several minutes to convince Themelis to let his mother go, but he refused and eventually shot her before opening fire on the cops, hitting McGough in the leg.

Several other officers returned fire and hit Themelis, police said. Although he managed to get back inside the home, sparking a standoff, police ultimately found him dead inside the residence.

Police had previously responded to the home several times for incidents in which Themelis allegedly attacked his parents, and authorities seized all firearms from the home based on a court order, according to Sheriff Chronister. He added that it was unclear how Themelis obtained another weapon.