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A video released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Dade City Police Department shows the moment an armed suspect carjacked a victim and held them hostage before being shot by officers. Deputies were alerted of a suspected car theft near a hospital and tracked the car into Pasco County. The video shows the suspect carjacking a victim and pointing a gun at officers before being shot. The suspect, identified as John Coker, faces multiple charges and has a history of felony convictions. No one else was injured in the incident. NBC 6 South Florida reported
Armed Carjacking Suspect Shot and Injured by Police in Dramatic Incident
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Dade City Police Department have released a video capturing the intense moment an armed suspect carjacked a victim and held them hostage before being shot and injured by officers from multiple agencies. The incident unfolded near the AdventHealth Tampa hospital, where deputies from the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office were alerted of a suspected car theft.
After tracking the stolen car into Pasco County, Dade City Police were called to assist. The video footage shows the suspect abandoning the car near a Publix on US 301 in Dade City before fleeing into a nearby neighborhood and hiding in a small shed.
Shortly after, the armed suspect emerges from the shed and forcefully carjacks a victim, forcing them to drive away. With law enforcement officers closing off all roads and surrounding the vehicle, the victim eventually stops, allowing the armed suspect to exit the back seat and point a gun at the officers.
Astonishingly, the suspect tosses what appears to be a gun and retrieves another weapon from a pickup truck parked nearby, again aiming it at the officers. Responding to the imminent threat, four HCSO deputies and one Dade City police officer open fire, injuring the suspect, later identified as John Coker, 36.
Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized that this was not a mistake or misunderstanding, but a deliberate choice made by a dangerous felon that endangered innocent lives. Coker, who faces numerous charges including armed carjacking and armed kidnapping, was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive his injuries.
Dade City Police Chief James Walters praised the brave actions of law enforcement officers, highlighting that no other community members were harmed in the incident. According to the sheriff’s office, Coker has a lengthy history of felony convictions dating back to 2007.
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