1400 Block Of Cactus Wren Place

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances that resulted in a suspect fatally shooting his parents and injuring one deputy.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 11:09 p. m., deputies responded to the 14000 block of Cactus Wren Place in Tampa to the report of a shooting.

The caller stated her husband had just been shot. While on the phone with the HCSO dispatch center, several more shots were fired.

Upon arrival, deputies encountered the caller and suspect outside of the residence. The suspect, Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr., 19, then shot his mother, the caller, turned and fired towards deputies.

Five deputies returned fire, deploying their service weapons, causing Themelis, Jr., to retreat into his home.

HCSO’s SWAT Team, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, and Crisis Negotiation were called to the scene.

When specialty units entered the home, they discovered Christos had succumbed to his injuries.

The five deputies involved in this incident are:

     Deputy Shane McGough, 26, two years of service; Deputy Brandon Schade, 26, one year of service; Deputy Richard Ziegler, 33, nine years of service; Deputy Bjar Atkins, 38, 13 years of service; and Deputy Ciara Moncada, 34, two years of service

None of the deputies involved have any prior uses of deadly force.

McGough is currently in stable condition.

In accordance with HCSO policy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

This investigation is ongoing.