Officer killed in Tarpon Springs shooting

The shooting occurred around 3 a.m.

6:21 AM, Dec 21, 2014

4:07 PM, Dec 21, 2014

Officer Charles "Charlie K" Kondek was shot and killed Sunday in Tarpon Springs while on duty.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

TARPON SPRINGS - FOR THE MOST UPDATED STORY, CLICK HERE.

UPDATE:

A Tarpon Springs police officer was shot and killed early Sunday morning while responding to a 911 call.

Officer Charles Kondek, 45, was a shot by a suspect near an apartment complex located on 199 Grand Blvd.

A news conference is scheduled for later today. Watch on ABC Action News Now .

Ofc. Kondek was rushed to Florida Hospital North Pinellas, where he was pronounced dead.

Kondek was a 17-year-veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department. He also served over five years as a NYPD officer before moving to Florida.

Details of the what happened have not been released, but the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office later identified the suspect as Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23, a transient. He's been arrested and charged with one-count of first degree murder. Parilla was booked at the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater.

When asked by reporters why he killed Officer Kondek, Parilla responded, "I apologize to the family. That was not my intention." [See video above in media player]

GALLERY: Scene and memorial photos

Following the shooting, Parilla away in a white Hyundai and crashed about a half mile away near the intersection of Athens and Cross Street. Parilla lost control of the car and slammed into a pole then into a vehicle. He was arrested at the scene.

The following was posted on the department's Facebook page:

"It is with deep regret and great sadness to report the death of Officer Charles "Charlie K" Kondek... Our hearts and prayers go out to the Kondek Family and offer our deepest sympathy to them. May Charlie rest in peace and we will never forget him."

IN-DEPTH: Tarpon Springs Officers killed in the line of duty

According to multiple sources, Kondek leaves behind a wife and five children.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the Tarpon Springs Police Department continue to investigate the shooting.

Governor Rick Scott issued the following statement on the death of Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek:

“We are saddened by the death of Officer Charles Kondek who was killed in the line of duty early this morning. Ann and I pray that God provides comfort to his loved ones and all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.

Last month, Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Smith was also killed in the line of duty. Each loss of a law enforcement officer is heartbreaking and losing two heroes in less than a month is a cry for peace and a signal to all Floridians to pray for our men and women in uniform who protect our communities each day.

As we celebrate the holidays, I hope and pray that Floridians can come together and foster a peace that will prevent future tragedies in our state. Our law enforcement bravely and selflessly risk their lives to protect us and as Governor I am always thinking about how we can thank and strengthen the men and women who wear the uniform and serve our families. Ann and I join all Floridians in honoring our fallen heroes and we will continue to pray that God watch over all of our law enforcement officers and their families.”

Action News discovered Parilla has served time in prison and has a long list of charges out of Hillsborough County.

Court records shows on Oct. 13, 2014, a violation of probation warrant was issued for him.

Parilla had five arrests according to Hillsborough County Jail records. Three of those occurred in 2009, with the most recent being in August of 2011.

According to information from the Department of Corrections, Parilla was in prison from December 2011 until March 2014.

He was charged and convicted of:

Possession of a controlled substance
Delivery of a controlled substance
Delivery of cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Dealing in stolen property
Trafficking in drugs
Leaving scene of a crash with injury

UPDATE:

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Department has identified the officer killed as Charles "Charlie K" Kondek, 45, a 17-year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

Investigators have confirmed a second scene in the case involving the fatal shooting of a Tarpon Springs officer.

The suspect, who is currently in custody, fled the scene and crashed into a pole and then into a vehicle at Athens and Cross Street, authorities say. He was apprehended at that location.

A press conference about the investigation will happen sometime today.

UPDATE:

The victim in today's shooting was male, as is the shooter, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Four Tarpon Springs police officers have been killed in the line of duty, according to the city's website . They are:

Police Officer Lanny Rhea Langford
Tarpon Springs Police Department
EOW: Tuesday, November 18, 1969
Cause: Automobile accident

Patrolman Everett E. Blewfield
Tarpon

Springs Police Department
EOW: Monday, August 16, 1926
Cause: Gunfire

Marshal Rueben T. Jones
Tarpon Springs Police Department
EOW: Saturday, August 27, 1921
Cause: Gunfire

Marshal "Rat" Whitehurst
Tarpon Springs Police Department
EOW: July 4, 1893
Cause: Gunfire

UPDATE:

The suspect is in custody. The officer killed was a Tarpon Springs police officer.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Pinellas authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting this morning where the officer was killed.

The shooting occurred around 3 a.m. on Grand Boulevard in Tarpon Springs.

A news conference will be held this morning to provide details about the incident.

The public information officer for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will be on scene soon.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the Tarpon Springs Police Department are investigating.