‘I ran behind a tree’: Witness recalls chaos at Carrollwood park where deputy was shot
CARROLLWOOD, Fla. (WFLA) — Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called to Carrollwood’s Beacon Meadows Park to speak to a man who had been given a trespass warning to stay away from the park, and found Anthony Carpenter who quickly became confrontational.
For more than 20 minutes, deputies tried to talk to Carpenter, calmly, and convince him to leave the park.
Carpenter is homeless and, according to a number of people, he was living in the park under a public shelter.
Kate Plummer is one person who called authorities to complain about Carpenter and his aggressive dogs.
“I empathize with the situation of being homeless, and especially I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be in that situation, but this is also a neighborhood and it’s a place where children are,” said Plummer.
She said Carpenter’s dogs were often aggressive toward her and others.
“I had called the parks and rec department, two times I think, just to say this is not a place people should be taking up residence. It just makes people uneasy,” said Plummer.
When deputies confronted Carpenter on Sunday, he continuously put his hands into his jacket pocket. Deputies can be heard on video from their body cameras advising Carpenter to keep his hands out.
Carpenter swore at deputies and told them he wouldn’t comply. Eventually, the deputies used a Taser to bring him under control. But somehow, during the exchange, Carpenter managed to fire three shots from a weapon he was hiding in hid pocket.
At that moment, Karen Johnson was walking up to the park with her husband. She heard the shots fired and feared for her life.
Deadly Florida carjacking tied to another murder and deputy’s arrest, sheriff says
“We heard the gunfire and I ran behind a tree because I didn’t know who was shooting,” said Johnson.
One of the rounds hit Deputy Kerr Craige. The deputy can be heard on video asking,” How did I get hit?”
Craige was hit in a microphone used for his radio that is attached to his shirt. He is now home recovering from his wound.
Carpenter was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
