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Man With Pellet Gun Fatally Shot By Officer

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON

The Tampa Tribune and CHIP OSOWSKI News Channel 8

Published: October 4, 2008

LARGO - A Largo police officer shot and killed a man Friday who was armed with a pellet gun fashioned to look like a .45-caliber handgun, police said.

The man has been identified as Vincent J. Esposito, 41, of Oldsmar.

At about 4:20 a.m., someone called police saying a man was shooting at a neighbor's house in the 800 block of 14th Avenue Southwest, Lt. Mike Loux said.

As officers rushed to the scene, the shooter ran away but was found by Sgt. Frank Parr at 1203 Ridge Road S.W., Loux said. There was a confrontation between the two, and Parr shot Esposito, Loux said.

Esposito was taken to an area hospital, where he died, Loux said.

A more detailed chronology of events was not supplied by police.

Parr was not injured. The 12-year police veteran was the midnight shift patrol supervisor.

He is on routine, paid administrative leave while the shooting is under investigation.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com. Reporter Chip Osowski can be reached at (813) 221-5784 or cosowski@wfla.com.

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