Christos Alexander Themelis Jr. fatally shot his 51-year-old father, Christos Byron Themelis, inside the home and then shot his 48-year-old mother, Rebecca Ann Themelis
A 19-year-old of Greek origin killed his parents in their Florida home and shot a police officer in a gunfight captured on the wounded officer’s body camera before the young man was fatally shot Saturday night.
According to the New York Post, Christos Alexander Themelis Jr. fatally shot his 51-year-old father Christos Byron Themelis inside the home and then shot his 48-year-old mother Rebecca Ann Themelis in the front yard in front of officers just after 11 p.m., the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Officers initially rushed to the home when they received a “freakish” 911 call from the shooter’s mother, who said her son had just shot her husband while gunshots rang out inside, Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
While the mother was in the front yard, the son struck her in the back of the head. The unfortunate woman had received instructions from the authorities to walk towards them, however, she did not manage to get there. Then her 19-year-old son opened fire on the police who returned fire.
During the exchange of gunfire, Officer Shane McGough, 26, was shot in the leg, authorities said.
His colleagues quickly provided first aid. His leg was bandaged before he was rushed to a local hospital.
“I got hit,” McGough said, as he grimaced in pain, as captured on video.
Themelis was shot during the shootout with four other officers. Badly wounded, he headed back to the house and went inside. Then, the SWAT team entered the home shortly after and found Themelis and his father dead from gunshot wounds.
Themelis reportedly died from injuries sustained during the gunfight with police.
McGough, a two-year veterinarian for the sheriff’s office, is in stable condition. He underwent surgery Sunday morning to remove the bullet from his leg.
The assailant had engaged the authorities in the past and was prohibited from possessing weapons, the sheriff said.
“How did he have access to any type of firearm to be able to commit this type of violence here tonight?” the sheriff wondered, calling the young man a “monster.”
Deputy McGough is in good spirits and with his family. Surgeons are expected to remove the bullet from his leg later this morning and repair the damage it caused. Please keep him and all of the deputies involved with the shooting overnight in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/N41wzKdTBi
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) June 16, 2024
Chronister called the situation “truly terrifying.”
“There is no doubt that the quick response of our officers mitigated the threat to those around us,” the sheriff concluded.
Source :Skai
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