Suspect in I-75 Florida Highway Patrol Shooting Found Dead in Nearby Woods

MICANOPY — The suspect who fired at a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper on Interstate 75 in Alachua County was shot and killed in the nearby woods Saturday.

UPDATE: SUSPECT IDENTIFIED

“The Interstate has now opened northbound and traffic is no longer being diverted at the 374 mile marker,” the Alachua County Sheriff said. “The Trooper had arrived to assist a disabled vehicle when an unknown black male began firing at him, and then fled into the woods.”

The disabled vehicle was on northbound I-75 south of Gainesville in Micanopy. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, who assisted the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the man was found dead after law enforcement officials made contact with the suspect. A confrontation occurred and the suspect is dead.

“The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple other agencies, was called in to assist the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in response to an armed subject in the area of Interstate 75 near Micanopy, where FHP reported that shots were fired. Law enforcement contained and searched the area to locate the suspect,” the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. “After law enforcement made contact with the suspect, a confrontation did occur and the suspect is deceased. No law enforcement officers were injured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has responded to take over the investigation.”

The interstate was closed while the search was conducted. At 2:30 p.m., only the southbound lanes were open.

Alachua County Sheriff spokesman Art Forgey said the unidentified black male shooter was associated with the broken down vehicle, but did not know whether he was the driver or a passenger. A motive for the shooting was not immediately known.