Largo Police Arrest Man in Attempted Murder Case
Posted: November 4, 2015
Largo Police arrested 32 year-old Richard Allen Harris of Clearwater. He is now facing charges of attempted first degree murder after shooting at occupants in a vehicle.
At approximately 1:06 AM on Sunday, November 1st, 2015, the Largo Police Department received a call about possible gunshots in the area of 14th Ave NW and Clearwater Largo Rd. Â According to a press release from Lieutenant Paul Amodeo of Largo Police Department, patrol units responded to the area and located shell casings and broken glass in the roadway.
Subsequent investigation revealed that there were two groups of people who were involved in a physical altercation along the street near the Wild Indian Saloon at 1158 7th St NW. After the altercation, parties involved in the physical fight both got into vehicles and proceeded to look for each other in the general area. These two vehicles were a white PT cruiser, and White Ford SUV.  Occupants inside the PT Cruiser went back to and entered the Wild Indian Saloon and explained they had just been in a fight.
Richard Allen Harris decided to insert himself into the dispute, left the saloon, and started driving around in his Black GMC Envoy. He was driving around looking for the Ford SUV.  The occupants of the Ford did not know that Harris and his car were now part of the dispute.
At one point the White Ford SUV ended up behind Harris as he turned west onto 14th Ave NW from southbound Clearwater Largo Rd. The occupants of the Ford SUV unknowingly followed Harris around the corner. As they turned the corner, Harris is suspected of opening fire on the Ford SUV, shooting rounds through his own vehicle and windows. Several rounds struck the Ford SUV which was being driven by Henry Thomas.  He had two other male occupants in the vehicle with him.
LPD reports that one bullet hit the windshield right in-front of the face of Mr. Thomas.  The bullet did not fully penetrate the glass. No rounds were recovered from the car, though there was also damage to a B pillar, and the front passenger tire.
On November 3rd, 2015, detectives from Largo Police developed probable cause and arrested Richard Allen Harrison on the Attempted Murder Charge related to this incident. Harris also had a Hillsborough County Failure to Appear Warrant for a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.