Florida MP shot 3 times in ambush leaving hospital
The Florida deputy who was shot three times by a suspect who “waited” to open fire on officers last week has been released from hospital.
Corporal Matthew Aitken, 40, of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, was shot in the neck, hand and leg while responding to a vehicle burglary report on March 12, FOX 13 Tampa reports Bay.
“He’s a badass,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told the TV station after the deputy left the hospital on Friday afternoon. “But he’s got to take it easy. He’s got a bullet in his neck, his leg is fine, he’s got wrist issues, but I have no doubt he’ll come back, and he’ll come back strong because that’s who is- he.”
The man accused of shooting Cpl. Aitken, Zion Bostick, 23, allegedly attempted to break into cars just before 7 p.m. in unincorporated St. Petersburg when deputies were alerted and began pursuing the suspect, the city’s sheriff’s office said. Pinellas County.
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Corporal Matthew Aitken of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office walks out of a hospital hand-in-hand with his daughter days after being shot three times. (FOX 13 Tampa Bay)
Cpl. Aitken, 40, and his K-9, Taco, were accompanied by Sgt. Jake Viano, 49, as they followed Bostick into a fenced yard, where officials say the suspect was “waiting”.
Police said deputies followed the suspect and spotted him trying to hide behind a corner of a house.
Bostick opened fire, hitting Aitken three times before shooting Viano, officials said. Viano dodged the bullets and returned fire, killing the suspect.
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Zion Bostick, 23, was killed in a shootout involving police on March 12, 2023, after authorities said he shot a deputy three times. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
Viano and Taco were not injured in the shooting.
Bostick had a second gun in his right pocket, police said, which was reported stolen in Manatee County.
He had a “long criminal past”, the Saint Petersburg Police Department said.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s K-9 Corporal. Matt Aitken and his partner K-9 Taco had been pursuing the now deceased suspect Zion Bostick. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)
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Bostick’s previous arrests include DUI, vehicle break-ins, drug possession and tampering with evidence, the station reported, citing prison records.
Fox News’ Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
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