Manhunt underway after Tampa-area deputy shot
THONOTOSASSA, Fla. — A manhunt is underway near Tampa after a sheriff's deputy was shot in the thigh early Thursday morning.
Deputy Scott Ranney and other Hillsborough County deputies were responding to a 911 call about shots being fired in Thonotosassa. They were searching the area when Ranney was shot.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Col. Donna Lusczynski said shots were fired in the direction of three arriving deputies around 12:30 a.m. All three deputies returned fire but it's unclear whether the suspect was injured.
Ranney was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. He was released from the hospital Thursday morning.
Roads in the
area were shut down as K-9 units and helicopters were used to search for the suspect. Deputies said the gunman is believed to be armed and dangerous. Residents in Thonotosassa, about 15 miles northeast of Tampa, were asked to report any suspicious activity.
Officials said Ranney joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in 2009 as a detention deputy. He joined patrol units in 2014.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspect.
Contributing: The Associated Press.