Manhunt continues in Tampa police officer murders, driver released from custody

TAMPA - Law enforcement officers resumed their search Wednesday morning for the man who shot and killed two Tampa police officers.

Police Chief Jane Castor believes the prime suspect, Dontae Reshawn Morris , is still in the Tampa area.

He's wanted for gunning down officers Jeffrey Kocab and Dave Curtis during a routine traffic stop at 50th Street and 23rd Avenue early Tuesday morning.

Keyshia Cohen was standing outside with her girlfriend, Renee Trinette when they heard the gunshots. "It was like pow pow pow and that's when the dude had started running and the girl had sped off and left," Cohen said.

"When we heard the gunshots we jumped back in the door. We looked out the window, we seen a young man running, we see the police car still there," said Trinette.

Investigators are targeting friends and associates of Morris in their manhunt. The combined reward for information leading to his arrest now stands at $95,000.

"We're in touch with his friends, his associates, his girlfriends, anybody who could've possibly known him, trying to just tighten up that perimeter to a point where we're able to place him under arrest," Chief Castor said.

The woman who was driving the car stopped by the officers when they were killed was released from custody Tuesday night.

22-year-old Cortnee Nicole Brantley was questioned for eight hours by detectives. Brantley and her car, a red Toyota Camry, were found at the Bristol Bay City View apartment complex on Tuesday.

Brantley provided detectives with information but remains under scrutiny. "There's the possibility that she's going to be charged down the road and as I've said before, she was able to provide us some information'" Castor said.

The reward for information leading to an arrest in the murders is now at $95,000. The FBI has put up $50,000 with the U.S. Marshal's Office putting up $10,000. Another $10,000 is from the Police Defense Fund. Crime stoppers put up $5,000 with the final $10,000 put up by the FDLE.

Anyone with any information regarding the identity and whereabouts of the suspect(s) responsible for the murders of Tampa Police Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab is urged to call Tampa Police at (813) 231-6130, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or text "CSTB plus your tip" to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).

Stay with abcactionnews.com for continuing updates on this breaking story, and for complete coverage, see the ABC Action News.com Special report: Tampa Police Tragedy .