The man fired a semi-automatic handgun at deputies, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A Tarpon Springs man died Thursday (April 6) after six deputies shot at him after he fired a semi-automatic handgun at them, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Richard Xavier Summers, 48, of Tarpon Springs, died at the scene. Deputies said he was wanted for failure to appear on a felony fraud criminal charge out of Hillsborough County. Deputies said Mr. Summers had an extensive criminal history that included drug trafficking and they were told that he was known to carry a firearm.No deputies were injured.

Deputies from the sheriff’s violent offender warrant unit began investigating after were notified of the outstanding warrant. Deputies said they discovered that Mr. Summers was gathering money so he could flee the country.

Deputies said that, about 3:30 p.m. Thursday (April 6), they found him riding as a passenger in an Uber driver vehicle. Detectives followed the Uber to a Wells Fargo Bank where Mr. Summers cashed a check and left in the same vehicle.

Deputies said the Uber driver pulled his vehicle off the roadway into the parking lot of the Winghouse located at 7369 Ulmerton Road in Largo when they asked him to pull over. After the vehicle came to a stop, deputies told Mr. Summers and the Uber driver to place their hands in the air. The Uber driver complied with the commands but Mr. Summers did not. Mr. Summers made furtive movements inside the front passenger compartment of the vehicle and continued to refuse deputies’ commands.

Mr. Summers opened the front passenger door and got out of the vehicle with a semi-automatic handgun that he pointed at detectives. Mr. Summers fired the handgun at the deputies, striking the hood of a deputy’s vehicle. Lt. Steve Wagner, Sgt. Frank Holloway, Cpl. Kevin Grissinger, Det. Clay Saunders, Det. Jason Willis, and Det. Thomas Akin returned fire. The deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on routine paid administrative leave.

For information about the Pinellas County sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Photos from the scene courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinellas Sheriff | Deputy-Involved Shooting | Tampa Bay News | Crime | TB Reporter

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