TAMPA, FL – A tragic series of events unfolded late Saturday night when a 19-year-old man fatally shot his parents and wounded a deputy, ultimately leading to his own death in a shootout with law enforcement, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to a residence in Tampa shortly after 11 p.m. on June 15 following reports of gunfire. The initial 911 call came from Rebecca Ann Themelis, 48, who reported that her husband, Christos Byron Themelis, 51, had been shot. During the call, additional shots were heard in the background.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the suspect, Christos Alexander Themelis Jr., and his mother outside the home. The situation quickly escalated as the suspect shot his mother in the back of the head and then opened fire on the responding officers, striking Deputy Shane McGough, 26, in the leg.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his department’s shock and sorrow over the incident. “The individual we faced this evening is responsible for not only injuring our deputy but also for the tragic deaths of his own parents,” Chronister said. “Our deputies faced a perilous situation and acted swiftly to protect the community. Their bravery prevented further potential harm.”
The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The injured deputy is reported to be in stable condition, and Sheriff Chronister has asked the community to keep him and all involved officers in their thoughts and prayers.
The investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing. Sheriff Chronister revealed that deputies had been called to the home ten times prior to the incident, mostly for issues related to mental health and domestic violence. A risk protection order had previously led to the seizure of the suspect’s firearms, and investigators are now trying to determine how he obtained the weapon used in the killings.
“We may never fully understand the reasons behind this violent outburst,” Chronister said. “But causing harm to another person is never justified, regardless of the circumstances.”