A high-speed pursuit ended with a fatal crash Monday afternoon south of Chiefland.
According to a Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) social media post, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers and LCSO deputies were involved in the pursuit that ended with the crash and fatality.
In an LCSO press release sent Tuesday, the FHP requested assistance from the LCSO after FHP troopers located a suspect wanted for a carjacking that occurred in Pasco County. Troopers attempted to stop the suspect — a 39-year-old Hispanic male — while driving through Crystal River, but the suspect fled north of US 19 into Levy County where LCSO deputies joined the pursuit.
LCSO deputies deployed Stop Sticks in Lebanon Station and in Otter Creek. The suspect avoided the attempts to flatten his tires at both locations where the Stop Sticks were placed.
The suspect shot at law enforcement multiple times during the pursuit, which reached speeds up to 120 miles per hour, and ended near CR 347 on US 19 when the suspect crashed five miles south of Chiefland. Emergency responders declared the suspect dead on scene.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was called to assist FHP and LCSO in the investigation due to the gunfire exchange between the suspect and law enforcement.
According to the Monday social media post, US Highway 19 and County Road 347 south of Chiefland to Otter Creek at State Road 24 were closed in both directions.
“We are extremely thankful that this violent criminal was stopped and there were no injuries to any of the Troopers, our LCSO Deputies or members of our public,” said Levy County Sherrif Bobby McCallum in the release. “This was a very dangerous situation complicated by high speeds, the exchange of gunfire and the suspect’s total disregard for anyone’s safety, including his own. We pray this type of criminal activity will never affect our community, but yesterday it did and our professionals were able to stop this criminal before any innocent person was harmed.”
No law enforcement officers were injured in the chase.
Editor’s note: This article was updated with information from the LCSO press release sent Tuesday.