Driver refuses to be carjacked, pulls gun and shoots man in his car, Florida cops say

The suspect in an attempted carjacking clearly picked the wrong victim when the driver turned out to be armed and annoyed, according to investigators in Florida.

Shots were fired and the teenage suspect is now in a hospital, the St. Petersburg Police Department said in a news release.

The conflict erupted around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the parking lot of the Crafty Crab restaurant on Tyrone Boulevard North, police said.

“While the husband was waiting in the car for the wife to pickup their food order inside the restaurant, a masked man entered the car and attempted a carjacking,” police said.

“The victim pulled out his own gun and fired at the suspect. The suspect fled the scene and the victim called 911 and waited for police to arrive.”

The suspect was identified as an 18-year-old man who “is in critical but stable condition”, police said.

Details of where the teen was found were not released.

“Once he is released from the hospital, White will face charges including attempted carjacking and occupied vehicle trespassing,” police said.

The driver was not hurt. His identity was not released.

St. Petersburg is about a 25-mile drive southwest from Tampa, on the opposite side of Tampa Bay.

This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 7:26 AM with the headline "Driver refuses to be carjacked, pulls gun and shoots man in his car, Florida cops say."