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Spring Hill shooting suspect targets niece and kills brother-in-law before deadly attempted robbery

Posted at 6:21 PM, Jul 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-20 18:36:13-04

Neighbors and family members say they are still trying to understand what led Theodore Parker to go on a bi-county shooting spree Thursday afternoon.

Suspect in three shootings dies in exchange of gunfire at Spring Hill store

Deputies explain the first shots were at his niece who he violently attacked in his Pasco County home. 
Then he drove to Spring Hill in Hernando County where he shot and killed his brother-in-law James Elswick on Olsen Rd.

After that, he came to a shopping plaza on US-19 where deputies say Parker again pulled his gun and tried robbing "Smokes" smoke shop. 

"It was extremely frightening because it's just so random," said Patricia Laramee, a nearby business owner.

Deputies say the smoke shop owner Richard Webb also had a gun. Parker and Webb shot one another and Parker's injuries killed him.

Webb survived and is still recovering in the hospital. Nearby business owners are calling Webb a hero. 

"We really hope that you’re able to recover from this physically, emotionally, and financially and the community is with you," said Laramee.