VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A Virginia man who carjacked a woman and opened fire at Florida authorities killed himself after deputies shot him three times, officials said.
On Wednesday, Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said Ronnie Spradlin, of Gordonsville, Virginia, fatally shot himself, according to preliminary medical findings and dashcam footage, news outlets reported.
Loar said Spradlin was accused of stealing a swimsuit from Walmart Tuesday night.
Two deputies arrived at the scene and confronted Spradlin but he resisted, pulled out a gun and shot at the deputies, Loar said.
Spradlin fled and later shot and wounded a couple with their two young children when he attempted to steal their car, Loar said. When that attempt failed, Spradlin held a woman at gunpoint and stole her car, Loar said.
When deputies caught up with Spradlin, he pointed a gun out of the car window and fired at deputies, who returned fire, shooting Spradlin three times on his left side, Loar said.
Loar said said while the medical report “isn’t official” an autopsy revealed there was a fatal gunshot wound above Spradlin’s right ear, indicating that he killed himself.
Spradlin was a felon convicted 88 times for various crimes including larceny, Loar said.
“He is a coward,” Loar said. “The threat is over, and it’s a safer day in Indian River County.”
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