An incident in the early hours of the morning resulted in a 65-year-old woman being shot by Pinellas County deputies. Marina DeFilippo was involved in a series of events that escalated after she ran a red light and alleged the CIA was pursuing her. The unfolding drama led to multiple attempts by law enforcement to apprehend her before finally shooting her multiple times, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
The encounter began near the intersection of 113th St. N and Park Blvd., where DeFilippo was initially stopped by deputies for running a red light around 1:30 a.m. Things took a bizarre turn when she claimed the CIA was after her, speaking at certain points in Russian before speeding off. According to FOX 35 Orlando, subsequent pursuits involved using stop sticks, which failed to stop DeFilippo after they deflated her tires. She was finally intercepted along Gulf Blvd. by Indian Shores Police.
As the confrontation intensified, deputies allege that DeFilippo waved a gun and rammed multiple vehicles, including a patrol car. Efforts to subdue her using non-lethal bean bags and pepper balls proved ineffective. Ultimately, a PIT maneuver was performed using an MRAP vehicle. However, DeFilippo persisted, leading to the deputies discharging their firearms. She was struck at least three times and is currently in critical condition at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, Abc Action News reported. One deputy sustained minor injuries during the altercation.
Seven deputies have since been placed on administrative leave, a standard protocol following such incidents. The names released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office include Lt. Thomas Montgomery, K9 Corporal Justin Fineberg, Corporals Brian Hirshman and Tyler Reidy, and Deputies Melanie Leib, Kyle Kilian, and Alberto Ortiz. During the ongoing investigation led by the St. Petersburg Police Department, the area of Gulf Boulevard between the Walsingham Bridge and 197 Avenue East will remain closed, according to the WFLA report.
