Posted on 05/08/2017 10:36:08 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA) — The name of the officer involved in a deadly police shooting in Tarpon Springs will not be released.
FDLE is looking into threats the officer is getting via social media.
Investigators said the Tarpon Springs police officer shot and killed 25-year-old Nicholas Provenza Saturday, after he came at him with a knife.
The officer was working an off-duty detail at a car show when visitors alerted him to a suspicious man riding his bike near Tarpon and Safford avenues.
When Provenza was questioned by the officer, police said he gave a fake name. When asked again for his name, he provided another last name before radio communication went silent.
The next thing the dispatcher heard was “shots fired,” three times.
The officer later told dispatchers the suspect had a knife. The officer was not injured.
A memorial has been set up for Provenza at the scene.
Provenza’s fiancé, Rebecca Schnell, lit candles and hung pictures at the memorial Monday.
She said the shooting was unjust.
“I just think this is totally unjust. There were so many other ways to go about it. He’s only 135 pounds and three shots is overkill,” said Schnell. “There’s no words to express, I haven’t stopped crying.”
Lisa Martino was at the car show. She said she heard gunshots and then noticed Provenza laying on the ground.
“When you’re standing that close and you see someone on the ground, it’s just unbelievable,” she said.
Friends said Provenza was recently Backer Acted, but was harmless and don’t believe he had a knife.
“No, he’s not an aggressive person, he’s not an aggressive person, not at all,” said Chris Kappas. “Doesn’t have that mindset to try and hurt anybody.”
Schnell said they’re seeking answers as to what happened. Provenza’s family wants justice.
“We’re going to do everything we can, we’re going to protest,” she said.
“3 shots is overkill”
Not really.
And, like clockwork whenever situations like this happen, some snowflake demanded that the officer should’ve shot at his legs. Aside from having little effect, he could’ve put innocent bystanders at greater risk.
Why do these snowflakes think you should be able to charge a cop with a knife and not be killed? It's asinine.
Baker acted
The Baker Act allows for involuntary examination (what some call emergency or involuntary commitment). It can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians, or mental health professionals. There must be evidence that the person: possibly has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).
Baker acted means he was “NUTS”
What right does any subject have when they attack an officer (or anyone else for that matter) with a knife ? The local media and those involved in the reporting of this should be not only challenged, but trashed, for using this episode to create a victim and blowing this out of proportion. This goes on too often.
I have lived in Tarpon Springs , it boeders Pasco and Pinellas counties....lots of transient and drug use....can be a rough area. The Cops are not that bad there...this guy deserved his fate.
yeah bs where is this “knife”
ho humm, wake me when the men, in the city, start taking out the drug dealers and other trash.
This is a tragedy all the way around. Just think about the feelings of the officer who had to shoot.
I have a friend in Florida whose son decided to suicide by cop. He had a knife. The young man was raised in the church and sang beautify. Just so sad.....
People (not you, Impala!) are so stupid when it comes to this!
Have they ever heard of the Femoral artery? That's a HUGE blood-filled pipe running down your leg. Pierce it and you bleed out in minutes. Dead.
On the other hand, many have been shot in the head and survived.
Source: 22 years in the military and student of military history.
The family says “we’re going to protest.” Have fun with that. I live about 10 miles south of that area and I have heard no one talking about this whole thing at all. Not at the grocery store, doctors office, little league fields, etc.
When you shoot at someone coming at you...you don’t stop pulling the trigger until you see hem actually fall down.
If you don’t, your stupidity and ignorance will get you what you deserve...to be removed from the gene pool.
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