TPD officer shot with own gun while trying to make arrest; chief hails responders' courage

A Tallahassee Police Department officer was shot by his own firearm and injured Friday afternoon after a "violent physical altercation" with a man at a North Monroe Street hotel.

The officer, whose name was not released, was shot in the hand during the incident, which occurred at the Loyalty Inn, 2738 N. Monroe St. The officer was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, listed in stable condition and is expected to recover.

During a news briefing Friday night at TPD headquarters, Chief Lawrence Revell said that the suspect, Willis Adams, 36, was involved in a trespassing incident at the hotel around 2 p.m.

Officers told Adams to leave and that he would be arrested if he came back. However, he returned to the hotel about two hours later and was spotted by one of the officers who was still on scene. The officer tried "multiple times" through verbal commands and using his Taser "to bring the situation under control," Revell said. But a fight ensued.

"The officer drew his firearm and a struggle ensued over that firearm," Revell said. "During that struggle, the firearm discharged, striking the officer in the hand. The officer immediately lost control of the weapon at that point."

Adams, armed with the officer's handgun, retreated, but was intercepted by another arriving officer. Adams allegedly reached for that officer's gun, too, as the officer tried to take him into custody.

"The suspect was eventually taken into custody with assistance of officers from the Gadsden County Sheriff's Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office, who saw this altercation happening and stopped. So thank you very much to those individuals."

Adams was arrested on a charge of attempted homicide of a police officer and was expected to be booked into the Leon County Detention Facility. He has a long history of arrests in Wakulla and Leon counties on charges that include domestic battery, battery on a person 65 or older, burglary, grand theft and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He served at least three stints in state prison.

The incident marked the second time in less than a year that a TPD officer was shot and injured on the job. On Sept. 25, 2023, an officer was shot in the leg in an ambush after responding to a drug-related home-invasion robbery on West Tharpe Street. He was struck in a major artery and nearly lost his life but went on to recover.

Revell noted that incident during the press conference.

"And I'm here to tell you, violence against our officers will not be tolerated," the chief said. "Violence in our community will not be tolerated. We take very seriously violence in our community, and it is totally unacceptable."

The shooting also marked the second year in a row in which a shocking incident of gun violence marred the waning moments of the Florida legislative session. Last year, TPD responded to a broad-daylight shooting in the Envision bank parking lot after two people were shot in a dispute over drug money.

The chief praised the officers who responded to the latest incident.

"I am very thankful to the men and women who dedicate their lives each and every day to serve this community," he said. "This is just one example of what our officers face each and every day and what their families face."

Revell also thanked the Tallahassee Fire Department, Leon County Emergency Medical Services and TMH emergency room personnel for providing "great care" to the officer.

"Our officers displayed unbelievable courage tonight, and thank God they're all coming home," Revell said.

The city’s latest shooting continues a violent start to the first few months of 2024. So far eight people have been killed and at least 13 injured in at least 17 serious shootings, according to a Tallahassee Democrat analysis of gun violence. Last year, there were only two fatal shootings by this time in March.

After Friday's shooting, officers scoured the hotel and surrounding area, where crime scene tape went up and evidence markers were placed on the ground. TPD alerted the public on social media that an officer was injured but shared no details until hours later in the livestream.

One lane of North Monroe was shut down as investigators worked the scene.

The Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the shooting, said FHP Master Corporal P.J. Shaw. Raa Middle School sent a note to parents about a heavy police presence near the campus, which is located south of the scene.

"This was because police were escorting an ambulance to the hospital due to an incident involving a law enforcement officer not near the school," the school said. "Raa Middle School was not placed on Lockout or Lockdown because there was never a threat to the school, its students or staff."

Revell, during the news conference, pleaded for the public for its help in preventing crime and gun violence.

"Policing in this community does not come without your assistance," he said. "We need compliance. We need people to speak up when they see something. We need people to know that justice will be served to those who commit any illegal activity in this city."

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Police officer shot with own gun during struggle with suspect