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Details released in courthouse shooting
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
ST. PETERSBURG – Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office released a few more details Thursday afternoon about Wednesday’s fatal shooting at the St. Petersburg Courthouse.
Glen Lee Powell, 30, of Brandon was shot and killed after opening fire on two deputies at the entrance to the courthouse at 844 First Ave. N. just after 1 p.m.
According to the sheriff’s office report, Powell was wearing a backpack when he approached the magnetometers at the security checkpoint at the entrance. A deputy stationed at the checkpoint asked him to remove his backpack and place it on the conveyer belt before entering the metal detectors.
Powell then pulled out a 45 caliber Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun, which he fired at least twice. Deputy B. J. Lyons, 58, and Deputy Marvin Glover, 57, returned fire, fatally wounding Powell.
Lyons also was shot. He was taken by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center where he was treated and released. Detectives said the round that struck Lyons, first hit his portable radio shoulder-microphone which may have deflected it enough to prevent serious injury.
Detectives said a total of 13 rounds were fired by the suspect and deputies with a time span of a few seconds. Both deputies returned fire with their agency issued Glock 45 caliber handguns with Glover firing five times and Deputy Lyons firing six times.
From the time that the suspect entered the courthouse lobby to the conclusion of the shooting incident about 12 seconds elapsed, detectives said.
Sheriff’s officials reported on Wednesday that the suspect had thrown his backpack to the floor as he approached the security checkpoint; however on Thursday, detectives said that Powell never removed the backpack prior to the shooting.
A Sheriff’s Office bomb dog was called in to examine the backpack that contained an additional magazine and ammunition for the handgun, a gas mask, and a Khukuri knife. Powell had been carrying a total of 79 rounds of ammunition.
In accordance with sheriff's office policy, Lyons and Glover were placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Lyons has been employed by the Sheriff's office for 25 years. Glover has been employed by the Sheriff's Office for the past seven years and worked for the St. Petersburg Police Department for 27 years.
Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Robert Morris issued a statement Wednesday afternoon that said no judges or staff members had been directly affected by the incident. He said that the courthouse and adjacent 501 Building had been cleared and closed so that the Sheriff’s Office could do its job.
All hearings scheduled for Wednesday afternoon were canceled and rescheduled.
The courthouse reopened Thursday morning.
“It is sad that such security measures have to be in place for the public to have access to its third branch of government,” Morris said. But because the officers of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department are properly trained, they did their job. It’s unfortunate that a life was lost, but the public, employees, judges and others in courthouse were properly protected.”
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Article published on Thursday, May 8, 2008
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