Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Violent Crimes Task Force
Support Services Bureau
- Forensic Science Division

St. Petersburg Police Department
Officer Greg Shone
K-9 “Titan”

Sergeant David Stang Jr. (Injured)
Age: 51
Date of Hire: 11/26/2001

Elijah D. Johnson (Deceased)
DOB: 10/3/1995
Address: 400 41^st Street North, St. Petersburg

What:
A Sheriff’s Office sergeant was shot while searching for a man that fled from officers on a traffic stop and shot a St. Petersburg Police Department K-9 dog in St. Petersburg.

When:
The incident occurred at about 1:49 a.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019.

Where:
The initial traffic stop occurred in the area of 3^rd Avenue South and 30^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

The suspect abandoned the vehicle and shot the K-9 near 3^rd Avenue South and 26^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

The suspect shot the sergeant near 3^rd Avenue South and 27^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
A Sheriff’s Office sergeant was shot while searching for a man that fled from officers on a traffic stop and shot a St. Petersburg Police Department K-9 dog in St. Petersburg.

According to investigators, law enforcement officers from the Violent Crimes Task Force initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation on a vehicle being driven by 23-year-old Elijah Johnson, near the intersection of 3^rd Avenue South and 30^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

Johnson initially stopped for officers but then fled from the traffic stop in the vehicle. Officers did not pursue the vehicle and the Flight Unit responded.

Investigators say Johnson abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of 3^rd Avenue South and 26^th Street South and fled on foot.

Officer Greg Shone and his K-9 Titan with the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to the location and began tracking Johnson. At some point during the track, Johnson shot at K-9 Titan striking and injuring the dog. Officer Shone was not injured.

Sergeant David Stang with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was on perimeter in his unmarked cruiser with his emergency lights on searching for Johnson near the intersection of 3^rd Avenue South and 27^th Street South, when Johnson shot at Stang striking him in the shoulder.

Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers found Johnson deceased near 3^rd Avenue South and 26^th Street South, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sergeant Stang was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

K-9 Titan underwent surgery and is in stable condition.

The St. Petersburg Police Department is investigating the shooting. The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division is processing the crimes scenes.

The Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) is a county-wide, multi-jurisdictional task force that focuses on violent crime in Pinellas County. The task force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department.

The investigation continues.

Photo of Sergeant David Stang Jr.