PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Petersburg Police Department officer shot a man on Saturday morning who allegedly pointed a gun at officers, authorities said.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the suspect, Vernon Miller, 48, was listed in critical condition.
Sheriff’s Office officials said a 911 call was made to report that were shots fired at about 4:10 a.m. in the area of 2800 Freemon Terrace South.
St. Petersburg Police Department Officers Austin Heard, 24, and Steve Blanda, 37, first arrived on scene.
They spotted Miller near his parked van with a gun in his hand, PCSO officials aid. The officers instructed him to drop the weapon.
Miller, however, did not, and pointed the gun at the officers, PCSO officials said.
Heard then fired his weapon several times, striking Miller in the abdomen.
No officers were injured.
Heard has been on the force since March 11, 2024; Blanda joined in July 4, 2022.
Miller is a four-time convicted felon, PCSO officials aid. They believe Miller was a transient, who was living in the van.
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