PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.
At about 3:31 p.m. on June 26, 2021, two St. Petersburg Police officers were attempting to locate 23-year-old Austin Kingos who had probable cause for his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of violation of injunction for stalking.
According to investigators, Officer Ronald McKenzie and Officer Pavel Kuznetsov arrived at 10790 3rd Street North, observed Kingos in a vehicle and attempted to make contact with him. Both officers were in marked cruisers with their emergency lights activated and were in uniform.
Investigators say, as the officers made contact with Kingos they identified themselves and attempted to take Kingos into custody at the driver’s side door. A struggle ensued and Kingos pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and fired at the officers. Kingos then fled the scene on foot.
Officer McKenzie discharged his agency issued firearm at Kingos and both officers initiated a foot pursuit. The officers continued to verbally challenge Kingos, who eventually dropped his weapon. Kingos was taken into custody by the officers at 108th Avenue and 4th Street.
Once in custody, it was determined that Kingos was shot once in the left leg. The officers immediately rendered first aid to Kingos until paramedics arrived. Kingos was transported to a local hospital and his injuries are non-life threatening.
The officers were not injured.
“If Officer Kuznetsov’s head had been tilted slightly to the left,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, “or he had taken one more step before he stopped, There’s no doubt that he would have been shot in the head.”
“Kingos fired a round and as described by Officer Kuznetsov, ‘It literally whizzed by his head,’” Gualtieri said. “He said he could hear the round whizz by his head. It was that close.”
“I hope he gets treatment and I hope he gets to where he needs to be but he almost killed two cops in this county and he needs to be held accountable.”
Kingos will be transported to the Pinellas County Jail once treated for his injuries and will be charged with one count Violation of Injunction for Protection and two counts of Attempted Murder on a Law Enforcement Officer.
