The man who was shot is still in the hospital and may face a charge of Aggravated Assault against the Good Samaritan.

LARGO – Officers have determined that a Good Samaritan who shot a man he was trying to help was acting in self defense when he shot the man, the Largo Police Department said.

Michael E. Girardin, 63, was wounded in the upper left leg. He remains in Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for non-life-threatening injuries after the April 7 incident. (For related story, click here.) He is also thought to have been hit by a car.

The incident happened about 8 p.m. in the 11000 block of Walsingham Road.

The incident began after witnesses saw Girardin down in the road and assumed he had been hit by a car. While trying to render aid, police said bystanders urged Girardin to stay down and wait for medical  help.

Witnesses said Girardin became angry that they and the Good Samaritan were following him and urging him to stay for medical assistance. Girardin repeatedly told them to leave him alone.

Police said Girardin turned toward both men who were following him, produced a box cutter, and charged at them in a threatening manner. The witness, who was standing next to the Good Samaritan, said he was in fear for his life. The Good Samaritan fired one round from his weapon, striking Giradin in the upper left leg. The Good Samaritan then applied a belt on Giradin’s leg to act as a tourniquet. Largo Fire Rescue arrived about that time.

The witness did not know the Good Samaritan, officers said. The Good Samaritan possesses a valid Florida concealed weapons permit.

Detectives said they have set a non-arrest invest with the Pinellas/Pasco State Attorney’s Office for a possible charge of Aggravated Assault against Girardin.

Largo police are asking for anyone with information about a white SUV, possibly a Jeep or Kia, that may have been involved in the initial crash, to call the department’s communications center at (727) 587-6730.

Largo Police | Good Samaritan | Shooting | Tampabay News

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