Surveillance footage of a shooting incident involving a Reserve Officer in Tampa has been released by the Tampa Police Department. The video, sourced from a Hart Trolley, shows the encounter from a distance, occurring on Saturday, just before 7:00 p.m. According to information from the City of Tampa's official website, two Reserve Officers were actively managing traffic enforcement on the 600-block of Channelside Drive when the episode unfolded.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that Jaquan James Thomas, aged 38, is reported to have threatened to shoot another officer and was seen reaching for his pocket immediately before he was shot. Thomas suffered three gunshot wounds and is presently in the hospital in critical but stable condition. At this stage, no firearm has been recovered from the scene. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the nature of the alleged threats.
Reserve Officers Shelby Riggs-Hopkins and Paul Spike Hopkins, a married couple with prior law enforcement experience and who joined the Tampa Police Department as volunteers in July of the previous year, were identified as the officers involved. Reserve Officers like them are trained volunteers, providing extra manpower during emergencies or special events, which enables a greater number of officers to continue their patrol duties. An important detail to note is that these volunteers are not equipped with body cameras due to the expenses involved and the minimum hours they are required to work each month.
The FDLE and TPD detectives have found one video that captured the shooting. With the incident taking place in a populated area, authorities are calling on the public and local businesses to come forward and voluntarily share any additional video evidence with the FDLE. This aspect of community involvement is seen as crucial in piecing together the events that led to the shooting. "This remains an active investigation by FDLE," the Tampa Police Department stated, confirming that their own administrative review will run concurrently.
To deliver more insight into the occurrence, Chief Lee Bercaw addressed the media yesterday evening. The public has been provided access to view the live stream on the Tampa Police Department’s official communication channels. Additional details and updates regarding the investigation are expected to follow as the FDLE continues to look into the incident.
