State Attorney’s Office Says Officer Acted Lawfully in Fatal Shooting at Largo Wawa
Update: April 18, 2018
On Friday, April 13, 2018, the Office of the State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit delivered its findings in the independent investigation into the March 23, 2018 shooting incident involving Largo Police Ofc. Matthew Steiner.
The State Attorney found that “…the death of Linus Phillip Jr. was the result of having been shot by Ofc. Matt Steiner in the legal performance of his duty and the shooting was Justifiable Homicide, pursuant to Florida Statute Section 776.012.”
While the criminal investigation is still active and not yet Public Record, Largo Police released videos from Wawa cameras #9 and #12. These videos do not show the actual shooting, but provide context to the incident.
In both videos posted below, the incident is captured in the upper left and upper center portions of the screen. Camera’s #9 and #12 are the only known video sources showing the sequence of events involving Mr. Phillip and Ofc’s Steiner and Ables during the time of the shooting.
Attached is the letter from State Attorney Bernie McCabe to Largo Police Chief Jeff Undestad, which contains the SAO’s independent findings.
I will be available for sound at 3 pm at the Largo Police Department.
Click to view the letter from the State Attorney’s Office
Video released by Largo Police Department
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Original article below posted March 23, 2018
Man Killed in Officer Involved Shooting in Largo
On Friday, March 23 at 5:55 pm, an officer from the Largo Police Department was involved in a shooting during a traffic stop at the Wawa Store at 1215 N. Missouri Ave.
LPD released the following details Monday morning regarding the shooting. Largo Police Officers Matthew Steiner and Prentice Ables were on patrol when they noticed a Nissan Altima with illegally tinted windows. They engaged the driver, 30 year-old Linus F. Phillip, in a consensual conversation at the Wawa Store, which one independent witness described as “polite” on the part of the officers.
While standing near Phillip’s car, the officers smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
As they attempted to lawfully detain Phillip, he jumped into the driver’s seat and tried to flee. Ofc. Steiner was trapped half-in and half-out of the car as Phillip put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated.
The driver’s door was open and the concrete bollards were in close proximity. Ofc. Ables maneuvered clear from the vehicle.
As he was being dragged, Ofc. Steiner fired his duty weapon in self-defense. He was able to fall free from the driver’s compartment and passed beneath the driver’s door, which brushed him. Ofc. Steiner narrowly avoiding being run over as the car continued rearward then slammed into the bollards.
After striking another car and hitting more bollards, the vehicle came to rest between the rows of gas pumps. Both officers and responding back-ups immediately began first responder medical assistance to Phillip and called for Fire Rescue paramedics.
Phillip twice served stints in prison for Sales and Possession of Cocaine and Methamphetamine. Phillip was out of prison on Early Inmate Release.
He has previous arrests for Habitual DWLSR, Fleeing and Eluding, Tampering with Evidence, and Trafficking in Methamphetamine.
A significant amount of crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, marijuana, and cash were found in Phillip’s car.
Original post below
According to LPD, the suspect driver attempted to pin the officer between his vehicle and the gas pumps and barriers in the store parking lot.
Ofc. Matthew Steiner, a seven year veteran of the department, fired several shots in self-defense, hitting the suspect.
Ofc. Steiner was transported to Morton Plant Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect, whose identity is not confirmed at this time, was taken to Largo Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Additional information when available.
VIDEO
Update at the Largo Police Department Headquarters from Lt. Randall Chaney
Photos
