HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A shocking incident has left two deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office wounded following a brazen ambush. The officers were in the process of arresting a man accused of a terrifying crime: holding his former girlfriend captive at gunpoint. Details provided by the sheriff’s office illuminate the harrowing situation they faced.
Recently released footage from both body cameras and drones by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office brings the violent moment into stark relief. Currently, both deputies are recovering in the hospital. Miraculously, they are conscious and communicating with loved ones, according to officials.
This alarming chain of events began when a distressed woman arrived at the sheriff’s office to report a harrowing encounter. She claimed her ex-boyfriend had forcibly confined her for hours at gunpoint. Swiftly, deputies identified the suspect as 34-year-old Christopher Dmuchowski and tracked him to a nearby residence, authorities have stated.
Utilizing a drone to gain a strategic overview of the situation beforehand, the deputies hoped to manage the arrest safely. However, Sheriff Chad Chronister recounted how the plan veered tragically off course the moment they made their move. Dmuchowski launched a violent assault on the officers.
Describing the scene captured on video, Chronister explained, “From the body cam and the drone footage, you witness the suspect thrusting his arm out of the vehicle to take aim at the deputy. He opens fire just as the deputy exits his car. There wasn’t even time to shut the door before he was met with a hail of bullets.”
A second deputy who pulled up moments later was shot before he could exit his vehicle.
“I’m hit! I’m hit!” one deputy is heard saying in the video. “I’m in my car! I got hit in the neck!”
As Dmuchowski continued firing on the second deputy, the third deputy approached from behind and opened fire.
“As he’s getting out, he sees our suspect firing on the second deputy,” Chronister said. “He opens fire, returns fire, striking the suspect multiple times.”
Both wounded deputies were airlifted to a hospital, where they remain under medical care. Dmuchowski was also transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators say Dmuchowski was a convicted felon. He was found guilty of evidence tampering in 2013.
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