Update: Sheriff Gualtieri now says the two armed men were firing on Deputy Curry's patrol car at a range of about 30 feet. At least one of the men knew he was a law enforcement officer.
ST. PETERSBURG -- One man is dead and another in custody after a deputy involved shooting.
Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says Deputy Richard Curry, Junior, 32, was in fear for his life Thursday night when two men walked out of a house in St. Petersburg pointing firearms in his direction.
Gualtieri says Curry, a member of the Pinellas Violent Crimes Task Force working in St. Pete, was sent to find a driver who fled a traffic stop at U.S. 19 and Harn Boulevard in Clearwater. Curry parked in an alley behind the residence in the 2200 block of 36th Street South. A man approached Curry's car, and the deputy identified himself. After that, that man and a second man came out of the house and approached the cruiser with guns in hand, firing at Curry. The men dropped their weapons as they ran.
Deputies found Marquis Golden, 29, dead at the back of the residence. The other suspect, Delvin Ford, 22, was discovered with a handgun on a nearby rooftop. He surrendered without incident.
Deputy Curry was not hurt and is on routine paid leave during the investigation.
Photo Credit: Pinellas Sheriff's Office