ST. PETERSBURG - Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a shooting by a deputy who was serving a search warrant on Wednesday morning.
The incident happened at about 8 a.m. March 11 as deputies with the Narcotics Unit attempted to serve a search warrant at a private residence located at 3635½ 15th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Detectives said that after breeching the front door of the residence, the first detective to enter the home unintentionally discharged his agency issued 45-caliber Glock handgun. Brenda McKay, 43, was lying on a couch in the living room of the home and was struck by a bullet in the right inner thigh, detectives said. A medic with the entry team immediately rendered first aid, and McKay was subsequently transported by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center where she was admitted for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.
Per agency policy, detectives assigned to the Robbery Homicide Unit and the Administrative Investigations Division are investigating the shooting. The detective involved in the shooting will be placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave with pay. Since the detective involved in the shooting was assigned in an undercover capacity he will not be identified per F.S. 119.071(4)(c).
Narcotics detectives will serve the search warrant at this location once the shooting investigation is finished.
Prior to this incident, detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division served a related search warrant at a private residence located at 3611 Second Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. Detectives said that Lewis Pratt, 34, of St. Petersburg was arrested on drug charges as he left that address in a vehicle at about 7:40 a.m. on March 11. Detectives seized marijuana, crack cocaine and at least one firearm from the vehicle and residence.
