The police officer was wearing a vest at the time of the shooting. The vest may have saved his life, Tampa police officials said.

TAMPA – A police officer was shot and two suspects are dead after gunfire was exchanged late Saturday (March 26) afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Jose Rodriguez, 53, a 13-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department, was in Tampa General Hospital late Saturday night. Officials said he is expected to survive his injuries. Two suspects involved in the shooting died. One died at the scene; the other, at a hospital. Their names are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

Details of the shooting are still sketchy as the investigation continues and detectives work to establish a timeline and details. A Tampa police spokeswoman said police received a 911 call around 4 p.m. from a witness who was following two suspects in two cars. The witness spoke of some type of altercation in the area of N 30th Street and E 109th Avenue. The witness told officers the suspects drove to the back of the parking lot at the Hyatt Place Tampa, 11111 N 30th St. As officers arrived, there was some sort of gunfire exchange, police said. Rodriguez and the two suspects were shot.

Rodriguez was taken to Tampa General Hospital Trauma Alert. It appears his bulletproof vest may have saved his life, police said. One suspect was dead at the scene. The other was taken to the hospital where he later died, police said.

For information about the Tampa Police Department, go to tampagov.net.

Tampa | Tampa Police | Police Officer Shot | Jose Rodriguez | Hyatt | TB Reporter

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