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Man sentenced to life in prison in 2023 burglary which ended with a trooper injured, suspect dead: Court docs

Shooting involving an FHP trooper in Pasco County
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PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A man was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for charges in a Wesley Chapel trooper-involved shooting.

Pasco County Court records show Yoandy Mora-Perez was found guilty in a jury trial on charges related to a Feb. 4, 2023, pursuit, which ended with a trooper injured and another suspect killed.

FHP said around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2023, a trooper on patrol along I-75 came upon two men near two pickup trucks close to the northbound 279 marker. FHP said the men appeared to be trying to steal the second truck or items in the car, and then they took off heading north with the trooper right behind.

One of the men was Perez.

A pursuit with FHP troopers ended with FHP Trooper Turner being shot by the suspect in the abdomen and one of the suspects being killed. FHP said Trooper Turner underwent multiple surgeries and returned to full duty in May 2023.

Perez was sentenced to two life sentences plus 15 years on Tuesday.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles posted on social media a message that "celebrates the justice served today."

Why are commercial car washes able to operate as the Tampa Bay area continues to deal with drought?

Tampa Bay 28 heard from many people on social media who wonder why commercial car washes are still allowed to operate under drought-related water restrictions. Anchor Heather Leigh went out to find the answer.

Why are commercial car washes able to operate as the Tampa Bay area continues to deal with drought?