Police officer shot and killed near Tampa, Florida
Suspect is in custody, no word from officials on possible motive
A police officer was shot and killed in Tarpon Springs, Fla., early Sunday, by a fugitive trying to evade a warrant, police say.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that the shooting occurred at around 2 a.m. in the Tampa Bay-area city and that a suspect has been taken into custody.
The officer was identified as Charles Kondek, 45, a 17-year veteran who previously worked for the New York Police Department, MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.
Kondek leaves behind five children, the report said.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Sunday that police have arrested 23-year-old Marco Antonio Parilla Jr. on suspicion of first-degree murder.
The shooting does not appear to have any connection to the ambush killings of two New York police officers.
Authorities said Kondek responded to a noise call around 2 a.m. at an apartment complex. They say Parilla was pounding on doors, and fired at the officer.
Authorities say the suspect then got in his car and ran over the officer before he crashed into a pole and another vehicle. The suspect was then apprehended by police at that location.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the Kondek family and offer our deepest sympathy to them," the police department said on its Facebook page. "May Charlie rest in peace and we will never forget him."
Kondek previously served on the New York City Police Department for more than five years.
Kondek is the department's fifth officer to die in the line of duty since 1893 and the first to be fatally shot since 1926, MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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