Three siblings sought in Zephyrhills shooting

Three siblings sought in the shooting at a Zephyrhills police officer after a traffic stop Tuesday have a "stockpile" of weapons, authorities said.

"We're talking about three people with the tendency to try and kill a police officer," Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said this morning.

Named a suspect was Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, who was sentenced Monday to 12 years of probation on Volusia County charges of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a victim younger than 16 and sending harmful material to a minor.

Dougherty was supposed to wear an ankle monitor as part of his probation.

"He cut off the (monitor) just before this incident," Nocco said.

Authorities also are searching for Dougherty's brother and sister, 26-year-old Dylan Dougherty Stanley and Lee Grace E. Dougherty, 29.

The siblings have lived in Lacoochee for the past three years, investigators said. They are considered armed and dangerous.

Nocco said Ryan Dougherty sent his mother a message after the shooting saying: "At some point we all have to die."

"It's clear that these three are on a mission," Nocco said.

The incident happened about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, when the police officer tried to stop a car for speeding at Sixth Street and Ninth Avenue, investigators said. Shots were fired from the suspects' car, later identified as a white, 2006 Subaru Impreza with New York tag FBE 5900.

The officer, who was not injured, did not return fire but gave chase. The Subaru reached speeds of 103 mph before the pursuit ended at State Road 54 and Morris Bridge Road when a bullet hit the patrol car's front left tire.

Nocco said the Subaru belongs to Ryan Dougherty's girlfriend, who helped authorities identify the car.

The sheriff's office said bullets of multiple calibers were found.

Video of the incident shows the shooter "stop and pause several times to try to harm the officer," Nocco said.

"They have a stockpile of weapons," he said, attributing the information to Ryan Dougherty's girlfriend. "Dylan Dougherty five years ago purchased an AK-47 at a pawnshop in Zephyrhills."

Sheriff's Detective James Medley said it's unclear why the incident escalated rapidly.

"Ryan was apparently upset about" the ankle monitor, he said. "Why the other two are involved, we don't know."

Nocco said the search for the siblings involves several jurisdictions in Florida and other states. He made a plea for the siblings to surrender.

"We want to be peaceful, but the walls are closing in on you," Nocco said. "We know who you are and we're going to get you. We're going to win and will bring you to justice."