Two Pinellas deputies shoot, injure Largo man

Anthony Gonzalezz (injured, in custody)

DOB: 02/02/1987

Address: 11960 133rd Avenue N. Apt. #2, Largo

Pamela Gonzalezz (Driver)

DOB: 04/18/1953

Address: 11960 133rd Avenue N. Apt. #2, Largo

LARGO — A Largo man was shot by two deputies after he pointed an assault-style rifle at them Friday night, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

The deputies were summoned to 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road at about 8:30 p.m. by a resident who said a man in a black sport utility vehicle was threatening people with a rifle.

When deputies arrived, the SUV drove past them and they began to follow. The vehicle pulled over and a passenger exited and tried to jump a fence. The passenger then pointed the rifle at two deputies, who opened fire — one with a handgun, the other with a rifle, Gualtieri said.

The man was hit multiple times. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center and was undergoing surgery late Friday, Gualtieri said.

The Sheriff's Office identified the wounded man as Anthony Gonzalez, 26, of 11960 133rd Ave. N.

Deputies were told that Gonzalez is involved in drugs and was apparently looking for some people who had ripped him off, Gualtieri said.

His mother was driving the SUV when deputies pulled it over, Gualtieri said. Pamela Gonzalez, 60, who lives at the same Largo apartment as her son, was not hurt.

Gualtieri said both deputies were placed on administrative leave, which is routine in deputy-involved shootings. They were identified Saturday as 29-year-old Steven Smith, who joined the Sheriff's Office in October 2012 and Mark Douglas, 46. Douglas has been on the force since January.