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Arrests Of Teens Stun Pasco Deputy Who Was Shot

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 12, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - What's worse than being shot on the job, said Deputy Jeffrey Chandler, is finding out who likely pulled the trigger.

"It was harder for me to believe I was shot by juveniles than to realize I was shot," he said during a news conference Monday afternoon at the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Hours after sheriff's officials announced the arrests of two teenagers in connection with last week's burglary and shooting at Sam's Quick Mart in Lacoochee, Chandler stood in uniform in front of reporters, photographers and video cameras, smiling often.

"I'm ready to go back to work," he said about three hours before his regular shift began. "It's definitely a miracle. I thank God for being here today. He had his hand over me."

About 10:10 p.m. Thursday, Chandler, 31, and another deputy were responding to a burglary alarm at the store at 39010 State Road 575. Deputy Ted Johnson, 47, arrived first and went to the back of the building; he spotted someone near the air conditioning vent but the person went back inside, sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin said.

Meanwhile, Chandler arrived and went to the front of the building. The plan was designed so the deputies could collectively see each side of the building. As Chandler was running in front of the windows to get in position, he heard a shot ring out and almost simultaneously felt something hit his chest and push him backward, he said.

"At first, it was a shock," he said. "

'Holy cow. I just got shot.'"

He checked his body for injury and didn't find any.

"I took cover in a small ditch," he added.

The other deputy came to help him. Chandler realized the small, metal business-card holder inside his left shirt pocket deflected the bullet.

"No bruises. No cuts. No nothing," he said, pointing out where he felt the sting. "There's a little tender spot about the size of a half dollar."

He credits that tiny piece of metal, a Christmas gift he always carries, as his lucky charm. He also said he was wearing his bulletproof vest and isn't sure if the vest would have been enough to stop the bullet from piercing his skin.

Robert Anthony Green, 15, of 38548 Patti Lane, and Antonio "Tony" Lee Murray, 16, of 37330 Oak Street, Dade City, each were arrested on a charge of armed burglary of a business.

Green and Murray told deputies they broke in to Sam's Quick Mart on Thursday night and stole jewelry, electronics, clothing and a semiautomatic handgun, according to affidavits.

Sgt. James Sessa said Monday morning that the sheriff's office received a tip that someone was selling cell phones that had been stolen from the store on the streets of Lacoochee. The tips led them to Green, who was selling the phones, and Murray, he said.

Detectives are not certain who shot the deputy.

"We're still trying to verify who did what," Sessa said.

The teens both said they took turns firing the gun, a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun that was left at the store by the owner and stolen by the teens, the sheriff's office states. They told detectives they thought the officers were coming from the back of the store, and they were trying to fire their way out of the windows, which were covered with metal, at the front of the store. The teens said they did not know the deputies were on the other side of the windows.

So far, the teens have not been charged in the deputy's shooting. The case is still being investigated and Pasco prosecutors will decide what charges are appropriate.

"I don't believe they should be just slapped on their wrists and sent on their way," Chandler said.

Green's mother, Ellen Bailey, said her son is the eldest of five and he's always helping with chores. She hasn't known him to get in trouble with the law; she said she was stunned by his arrest.

"He's basically a bright student. He's outgoing," she said.

He would be a freshman at Pasco High when school begins and she hopes they let him out of custody by then.

"He was crying," she said of her visit with her son at the Juvenile Detention Center in Land O' Lakes. "He's scared."

Bailey said her son started hanging out with the wrong crowd over the summer and she doesn't know Murray well.

Murray's family couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

As for Chandler, he was eager to get back to work in Lacoochee and said he wasn't nervous about a repeat incident.

"We take the job knowing the possibility is always there," he said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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