Two Tampa Police Officers Shot & Killed
Law enforcement officials work near the location where two Tampa, Fla., police officers were shot and killed.
Two Tampa (Fla.) officers were shot and killed after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a misdemeanor warrant. One officer had made the stop and then asked for another unit for cover. The approach was made on the passenger side—all good. But for unknown reasons, both officers ended up dead. Right now, we just need to support their families and this agency because that’s what is important. The critical review can come later. However, this tragedy, like so many others, underscore the fact that no traffic stop is routine. Always be vigilant and wear your vest.
Dale Stockton, Editor in Chief, Law Officer
GALLERIES
Tampa Police Officers Shot & Killed
Officer Jeff Kocab, 31 and Officer Dave Curtis, also 31, were killed in Tuesday morning's shooting.
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VIDEO
Press Conference Following Shooting Deaths of Two Tampa Police Officers
Tampa Police Cheif Jane Castor and Mayor Pam Iorio brief the news media following the shootings of two officers early Tuesday morning.
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Tampa Police Find Person of Interest in Officer Slayings
Courtney Brantley is believed to be the driver of the car involved in traffic stop that led to two Tampa police officers being killed.
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Colleagues Remember Fallen Tampa Police Officers
Officers Whitney McCormick, Jeremy Larson and Jason Ward talked about Officers Curtis and Kocabs Tuesday in Tampa.
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Two Tampa Police Officers Killed
Two Tampa police officers were shot to death Tuesday during a traffic stop, touching off a massive manhunt that led to the capture of one of two people wanted in connection with the killings.
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The man accused of killing two Tampa police officers has a history of arrests dating back to at least 2003, records show.
Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, has been charged with writing bad checks, possession of cocaine and attempted murder, but nothing as violent as what he is accused of now.
Tampa Police say Morris shot and killed two officers after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning.
Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, both 31, were slain after Curtis pulled Morris over because the car he was riding in did not have a visible license plate. Morris had outstanding warrants for writing bad checks at a grocery store in Jacksonville, officials said.
Police have launched a statewide manhunt for Morris. The driver of the car, Cortnee Nicole Brantly, fled the scene but was captured. She was later released from custody.
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said Brantly may be charged later.
Detectives tried to reach Morris' friends and acquaintances Tuesday night. A large police command center near the scene of the shooting buzzed with activity overnight.
Records show Morris served time in state prison on cocaine charges on two separate occasions; a two year sentence, which ended in April and a nine month stint from 2004 to 2005.
Prison records show Morris was released in January of 2005. In October of that year, he was arrested and charged with attempted murder, but he was acquitted of the crime.
Meanwhile, Morris's family asked that he be allowed to turn himself in safely. A pastor for Morris' family said they do not condone his actions.
Authorities believed Morris was still in the Tampa area.
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