A 30-year-old Pasco County sheriff’s deputy died early Saturday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound outside a Palm Harbor club, following an argument in the parking lot. Deputies have identified him as David Greis Ospina, who had served with the agency since 2019.
According to Tampa FP, deputies responded around 2:37 a.m. to 37100 U.S. 19 North after receiving multiple calls reporting a possible suicide. Responding deputies found Ospina inside his vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to Country Herald. Ospina had been with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office since July 15, 2019, the outlet reports.
Investigators said Ospina and another Pasco County deputy had attended a Halloween party before the two later traveled to Silks Gentlemen’s Club in Palm Harbor, where detectives said an argument occurred in the parking lot, the same report states. Detectives reported that Ospina displayed a handgun and pointed it toward a woman before turning the weapon on himself. The woman was able to exit the vehicle and seek assistance from people at a nearby business, who then contacted 911.
Investigation and Next of Kin
Authorities confirmed that Ospina’s next of kin have been notified, per the same account. The reporting on which agency is leading the investigation diverges: Tampa FP states that the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Robbery & Homicide Unit is handling the ongoing investigation, while Country Herald reports that the circumstances remain under investigation by detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Robbery and Homicide Unit.
In a post on X, the Pasco Sheriff
wrote, “Pasco Sheriff’s Office shares a sad situation in which a PSO Deputy took their own life this morning while off-duty in Pinellas County. If you or a loved one are contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988.” The agency directed anyone contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis to call or text 988.
Officer Suicide Risk
The circumstances surrounding Ospina’s death echo a broader pattern documented by federal researchers. The FBI has reported that law enforcement officers face a higher risk of death by suicide than of being killed in the line of duty. The bureau’s Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection program notes that data submitted by agencies will not directly identify individual officers.
In Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement published research earlier this year aimed at improving understanding of officer suicide, noting that identifying former officers who died by suicide after leaving service had long been difficult. Anyone in crisis can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which connects callers with a trained counselor who can help with a mental health emergency and direct them to additional resources.
