A senior Bradenton Police patrol officer remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit with a traumatic brain injury after a suspect struck two officers with his vehicle while attempting to flee early Sunday, November 8.
A second officer suffered a lower-body injury and has been released from the hospital, according to a 10:45 a.m. update from the Bradenton Police Department.
The incident began just after 3:20 a.m. when officers responded to a report of a man with a gun harassing customers at the Wawa at 1st Street and 6th Avenue East.
Police said the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Dejerrian D. Murray, struck the two officers while attempting to flee. Two additional officers fired at his vehicle.
Murray continued to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and then returned to Bradenton as officers from the Bradenton Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol pursued him. The pursuit ended when Murray crashed at 1st Street and 10th Avenue West.
Murray sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital before being taken to the Manatee County jail.
He faces two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, along with charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer with high speed or wanton disregard, hit-and-run with serious bodily injury, hit-and-run with injury, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, violation of probation and resisting arrest without violence.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The investigation remains active, and police said additional information will be released when appropriate.
