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Shooter Points Weapons At Police, Is Shot Dead

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By NEIL JOHNSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 21, 2008

Pinellas Park police shot and killed a 44-year-old man who fired 30 shots while holed up in an apartment late Saturday night.

Two boys in the apartment fled minutes after Dallas Dwayne Carter opened fire with a handgun and rifle. The children, 8 and 13, were rescued by officers in the breezeway of the building.

Carter, who police said had health and money problems, left a note in his apartment.

The gunman was the only person injured, according to the Pinellas Park Police Department.

Police were called to the Shadow Run Apartments at 12001 Belcher Road about 11 p.m. Saturday after a man called 911 saying he had a gun and that his boys were in bed. He hung up when the dispatcher asked his name.

A crisis negotiator tried to contact Carter by phone and was moving into a position to use a bullhorn when Carter began firing. He had a .40-caliber pistol and a .30-caliber rifle, police said.

The shots struck other buildings and walls, and Carter continued yelling and firing in the direction of the officers.

At 11:32 p.m., Carter came out of the apartment, armed with both guns, pointing them at officers. Three officers opened fire with handguns and a rifle, police said.

They fired a total of 10 shots. Paramedics at the scene declared Carter dead.

The boys are with the state Department of Children & Families.

The three officers are on paid leave while the shooting is investigated by the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office and the Pinellas Park Police Department. Michael Erwin, 38, has been with the department since 1996. Adam Smotrich, 26, was hired in June 2006, and Alexandro Aguilar, 23, was hired in October.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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