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Breaking News

Bank Robber Barricaded in Tampa Apartment Complex

Aired July 06, 2001 - 13:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: A breaking news story we're following -- it's about two-and-a-half hours old, involves a failed bank robbery, a police chase, a dead police officer, another wounded and now a suspect holed up with a hostage in an apartment complex where we find Chris O'Connell of Bay News 9.

What's the latest, Chris?

CHRIS O'CONNELL, BAY NEWS 9: Well, Lou, as you said, a Tampa police officer is shot and killed in the line of duty. Meanwhile, the suspect still barricaded himself inside a Tampa apartment complex where many other residents live.

Take a look at the scene here in Tampa. It all started as a bank robbery. When police started a chase after that bank robbery, the suspect came down this street and the suspect started shooting at officers. Both officers were hit at the time. One of them rushed to Tampa General Hospital with at least one gunshot wound to the neck. That officer, who has not yet been identified, only as a female officer, died a short time later. The other officer, we understand, was grazed in that shooting - really no major injuries.

Now what's happening now, police negotiators are trying to talk out this suspect. They are still assuming he is armed. We understand the suspect's mother has been brought in to try to talk her son out of that. What -- also what's happening now is SWAT team members are still, at this point, trying to get other residents out of this complex fearing they may be in danger. Now we saw some residents being helped out of the second story window by the way of ladder and SWAT team members, but others are being told to stay in at this time, once again, because they believe this suspect is still armed.

So as we bring you back out here live, you see the influx of police officers. There's about 100 police officers. And we bring you down the street here, that's what they call a police tactical vehicle, otherwise known as the Peacekeeper. They bring that thing in in terms of when things get a little dicey.

Once again, about 100 police officers out here. Word trickling down through the ranks of the Tampa Police Department that one of their own has, in fact, been shot and killed. She is now at Tampa General Hospital. The other -- the partner of that officer still remains here on scene, obviously distraught over what happened. But right now, a situation remains tense as they still call this a hot zone here in Tampa. Suspect still barricaded himself inside this Tampa apartment complex. Meanwhile, a Tampa police officer shot and killed in the line of duty -Lou.

WATERS: And, Chris, as long as the mother is there, the police know who this fellow is. Do you know who he is or anything about him?

O'CONNELL: We do not know anything about this suspect. Word from what we hear from people living nearby, his mother might live here, he may have some connection to this apartment complex. But right now, still details are sketchy. As you can imagine, a very tense situation, not much word being through here because they are afraid that this suspect may be watching television. So we're make it pretty important not to show any police movements. The suspect may be watching police. He's already killed one police officer. They're hoping it stands at that.

WATERS: All right. Thanks for your help.

Chris O'Connell, Bay News 9 down there in Tampa at the apartment complex where the tense situation continues.

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