Thaindian News

TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) – Two Florida police officers were shot and killed during a traffic stop in Tampa Bay, local authorities said Tuesday.

Officer David Curtis, 31, from the Tampa Police, attempted to stop a vehicle with no license plate that eventually pulled over at 50th Street and 23rd Avenue.

After determining that the passenger was wanted on a worthless check warrant out of Jacksonville, Florida, and carried a long arrest record, Curtis called for backup and his partner Officer Jeffrey Kocab, 31, arrived shortly.

Together they approached the suspect’s vehicle on the passenger side, but the next communication, six minutes later, came from a citizen calling 911 reporting that two officers had been shot.

Responding officers found Officer Curtis and Officer Kocab on the ground and immediately began CPR. They were transported by ambulance to Tampa General Hospital, but Kocab was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

Doctors put Officer Curtis on life support, as a state-wide search for the armed suspect began, but he was also pronounced dead shortly after.

Tampa Police Officers and Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputies received a tip, which led to the location of a person of interest, Cortnee Nicole Brantly, 22, who was found at the Bristol Bay Apartment Complex, and took her in for questioning. Detectives also recovered the suspect vehicle at that location.

Police are currently searching for Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, who is believed to be the shooter, and is considered to be armed and dangerous. A $5,000 Crime Stopper reward was announced for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.

Officer Curtis served the Tampa Police Department for three years and eight months. He is married with four sons between the ages of eight months and nine years.