Officers from the Pinellas Park Police Department are currently working a shooting investigation which has resulted in a SWAT call out in the area of 45th Street North and 76th Avenue.
At approximately 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, the police department responded to the area in reference to a 911 hang up. Officers in the area heard gunshots being fired and loud screaming. One shot was fired from inside the residence, located at 4540 76th Avenue N, striking a vehicle just outside the front door of the apartment.
Officers quickly worked to evacuate the surrounding apartments, while attempting to communicate with the male subject. Officers determined that there were a total of three hostages in the apartment, two juvenile female and one adult female.
Shortly after noon, the two juvenile hostages were released uninjured.
The adult female hostage was released at approximately 3:20 p.m. which left the male suspect in the apartment by himself. The suspect was identified as 37 year-old Lee Michael Thrall.
At approximately 4 p.m., the door of the apartment was breached by an armored vehicle. This resulted in multiple gunshots originating from inside the apartment. A drone and robot were utilized to assist in locating the subject. An entry team then located the body of the subject in an apartment bedroom at approximately 4:50 p.m. His death appears to be the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation continues.
This incident is believed to be domestic in nature.
