19-year-old shot parents and injured deputy, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says – Orlando Sentinel

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Christos Alexander Themelis Jr. shot his parents and then wounded a deputy who was called to the scene near Tampa late Saturday.

Around 11 p.m. Saturday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from Rebecca Ann, Themelis Jr.’s mother, that her husband, 51-year-old Christos Byron Themelis, had been shot in the 14,000 block of Cactus Wren Place, the HCSO said.

When they arrived, five officers found the 19-year-old and his mother outside their home. Themelis Jr. shot his 48-year-old mother and then fired at officers, who fired back, wounding him, the HCSO said.

Themelis Jr. ran back into his home and barricaded himself, so HCSO called the SWAT and explosive ordnance disposal team for assistance, HCSO said.

When special teams and officers entered the house, they found that the 19-year-old had died as a result of his injuries, the HCSO said.

Deputy Shane McGough, 26, was shot but is in stable condition, the HCSO said. He underwent successful surgery Sunday to remove the bullet from his leg, the HCSO said.

“The monster we encountered tonight is responsible not only for the injury of our deputy, but also for the deaths of his own mother and father,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release early Sunday. “Our deputies responded to a chaotic scene and immediately put themselves in harm’s way to protect our community.”

“Without our quick and skillful intervention, an entire neighborhood would have been in danger.”

According to policy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

The investigation is ongoing.