PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — The use of force by an officer in a deadly officer-involved shooting in Pinellas County in May was deemed lawful by the state attorney's office, the sheriff's office said on June 15.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Pinellas Park officers were called to a home at 5000 94th Avenue North at 12:40 a.m. on May 30.
The caller, the mother of a woman who lives at the home with her grandmother, said that her daughter got into an argument with her ex-boyfriend, who was in the backyard and feared for her safety, according to authorities.
Police responded, and two officers went to the front door to speak with the ex-girlfriend while a corporal looked over the fence into the yard. Gualtieri said the corporal saw the suspect, identified as Jared Rudderham, 36, walking around and holding a cell phone.
According to Gualtieri, officers were told Rudderham owned a gun, but, at that point in time, no officers saw him with a weapon.
A K9 officer and the two officers who went to the front of the home went around to the back of the home, the opposite way of the corporal, to speak with Rudderham.
Gualtieri said as they entered the backyard, Rudderham took a gun out of his waistband, racked it and turned toward the K9 officer. The officer fired, authorities said, and hit Rudderham four times. He was taken to Bayfront Health, where he was pronounced dead.
The sheriff's office said Rudderham had a "lengthy" criminal history, which included aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon and false imprisonment, among other charges.
Gualtieri said in a press conference on Wednesday that Rudderham was last arrested six years ago and had been suffering from mental health issues in the last year.
According to Gualtieri, Rudderham and the victim shared a 7-year-old child together and separated in August 2022. Gualtieri said family members said Rudderham was distraught over the breakup.
On Monday, Gualtieri said Rudderham and the victim were texting back and forth extensively about the victim having other relationships. According to Gualtieri, at 4 p.m., Rudderham sent a text that said, "I'm going to kill everyone" and they stopped communicating after that until 11 p.m. when he messaged her again and simply said, "hey," and the victim didn't respond.
Around midnight, the victim told authorities she heard Rudderham tapping on her bedroom window. They talked over the phone and he tried to get her to come outside but she refused. The victim said Rudderham was making suicidal comments, and she described his mood as "scary calm," Gualtieri said.
When she asked if he had his gun on him, Rudderham refused to answer, Gualtieri said. At that time, the victim called her mother because Rudderham refused to leave. The victim's mother, who lives elsewhere, called police.
After officers arrived and the victim was talking to them at the front door, Gualtieri said Rudderham sent her a text that said, "I guess it's popping." A minute later, the shooting took place, according to Gualtieri.
Gualtieri said Rudderham's gun had one round in the chamber and 12 in the magazine, and Rudderham had a second magazine with 15 rounds of ammo.
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