Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.
On Saturday, March 30, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., St. Petersburg Police Department officers responded to the area of Shadyside Food Mart, located at 4200 15th Avenue South, for reports of shots fired.
Approximately five minutes later, a second 911 call was received, and the caller stated someone shot into a residence in the 1600 block of 40th Avenue South.
According to detectives, when Officer Dale Johnson arrived in the area, he saw a subject matching the description of the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Germane Small. Small was on foot and ran south and then east to the area of 1711 40th Street South.
Officer Andre Sousa arrived on scene and pursued Small on foot, running south. Detectives say Small turned around and fired at Officer Sousa but did not strike him. Small fired again, and Officer Sousa returned fire, striking Small in the face. Detectives say Small dropped the gun and ran across the street, where he was taken into custody. Small was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officer Sousa was uninjured.Small was armed with a 9MM Glock handgun with a 50-round drum magazine. He was released from the Florida Department of Corrections on March 2, 2024, where he served 9 years for armed robbery.
The investigation continues.
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