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Deputy-involved shooting investigated in St. Petersburg

Posted at 1:53 PM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-24 18:19:41-04

Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff's office are investigating a deputy-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.

The shooting happened at 12:49 p.m. at a home located at 1640 Alcazar Way S.

According to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, deputies and officers from St. Pete Police went to the home to serve multiple arrest warrants for Xavier Williams, 26.

He was wanted by the Violent Crimes Task Force for driving a stolen car, drug possession, domestic strangulation and other charges.

Williams was also behind a violent armed robbery incident and kidnapping in 2015, according to Sheriff Gualtieri.

Detectives tracked Williams to his father's home on Alcazar Way S and surrounded the residence.

Williams was spotted trying to sneak out a back door carrying a 9MM Glock. Detectives later discovered the handgun was stolen from a previous burglary.

Deputies told Williams to stop but he raised the handgun toward a detective instead, said Gualtieri.  Det. Chrys Cramer fired one shot, but did not hit Williams.

"He was pulling it out of his waistband and ready to come like this and when he was in that motion is when Det. Cramer fired," said Sheriff Gualtieri. "And thank God he did because otherwise we could be in a disastrous situation here. We could have a seriously injured, or dead law enforcement officer."

No deputies were injured.

Gualtieir said Williams was "hell bent" on harming officers to avoid arrested.  

According to Sheriff Gualtieri, "Williams told our detectives, 'You guys are lucky to be alive. I only put the gun down because I heard the shot. It's not worth my family losing me because of some cops.'"

Williams' father will be charged with harboring a fugitive.