Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr Obituary, – HCSO reported that deputies were summoned to the 14000 block of Cactus Wren Place in Tampa for a shooting just after 11 p.m. on Saturday. The caller informed the HCSO dispatcher that her husband had been shot, and more shots were heard while she was on the phone with the dispatcher.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the caller and the suspected shooter outside the home. The suspect then shot his mother, the caller, before aiming at the deputies who were responding. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr. Five deputies returned fire, hitting Themelis, who then retreated into the house. A robot was deployed to enter the home, where Themelis’ deceased father was discovered.
Themelis was later found inside the home by the SWAT Team, having succumbed to his injuries. Deputy Shane McGough sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during the incident and is currently recuperating in a hospital. During a press briefing after the shooting, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister mentioned that deputies had been called to the residence 10 times since 2021, primarily for mental health services and instances of violence from Themelis towards his parents. Firearms had been confiscated from Themelis in the past following an active risk protection order.
Authorities are investigating how Themelis obtained the gun used in the shooting of his parents. Sheriff Chronister commended the deputies for their swift and courageous response to the chaotic situation, stating, “Our deputies acted promptly and bravely to safeguard our community from harm. Without their rapid and skilled intervention, the entire neighborhood could have been at risk.”
