ST. PETERSBURG, FL. – Detectives with the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in St. Petersburg early Saturday morning.
According to investigators, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the area of 2800 Freemont Terrace South at approximately 4:10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The caller reported that the suspected shooter was dressed in all black.
Upon arrival, Officers Austin Heard and Steve Blanda observed a man who matched the suspect’s description standing in the doorway of a parked van. The suspect, later identified as a transient, 48-year-old Vernon A. Miller, was seen holding a firearm. Officers gave verbal commands for him to drop the weapon. Detectives say Miller turned toward the officers while still having the gun, prompting Officer Heard to fire multiple shots, striking Miller in the abdomen.
Miller was transported to a local trauma center with non-life-threatening injuries. Both officers were uninjured.
At the scene, detectives recovered a spent shell casing that did not belong to law enforcement. They also confirmed that Miller was armed with a black handgun. According to investigators, Miller is a four-time convicted felon.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force was established in 2020 to ensure independent investigations into law enforcement use of deadly force. The task force aims to provide thorough, objective reviews of officer-involved shootings in Pinellas County.
A press conference regarding the incident can be viewed below.