Defendant Who Attempted to Kill Hillsborough County Deputies to Remain Behind Bars Until Trial
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | [email protected]
TAMPA, FL (April 17, 2024) — The Tampa man who shot at three Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies last weekend at Beacon Meadows Park in Carrollwood will remain behind bars until trial. The State Attorney’s Office successfully argued that 32-year-old Anthony Carpenter remains a danger to the community and should be denied bond.
Deputy Sean Bush testified in court today that when deputies arrived at the park on April 14 in response to neighborhood safety complaints about Carpenter, the defendant became angry and defiant. The three deputies on scene continued to try to deescalate the situation for over 20 minutes. During that time, Carpenter removed a knife from around his neck, repeatedly told deputies he was unarmed, and refused to keep his hands out of his pockets despite repeated commands to do so.
In an attempt to gain control of the situation, deputies deployed their tasers on Carpenter, who then fired three rounds toward the three deputies. One of the bullets hit Deputy Kerr Craige’s service radio which was located on his shoulder area. The impact from the bullet hitting his service radio and microphone left Deputy Craige with a torn ligament and a possible broken bone.
“It is truly a miracle that Deputy Craige is alive today, and that none of our deputies were seriously injured. This defendant was on a mission to harm members of law enforcement, the very men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day. When he attacked them, he attacked our community, and he will be held accountable for his actions,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Carpenter is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and armed trespass on property.