TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Hillsborough County deputies surrounded a home for more than three hours on Thursday, looking for a suspect in connection with the murder of a man on Dec. 23, 2016 in Wimauma.
Deputies received information that Raul Rodriguez, 28, might be inside.
Raul Rodriguez is not related to the victim, but detectives believe the two engaged in a fight and Raul Rodriguez shot and killed the man after the altercation.
A SWAT team first used a robot to enter the home where they suspected Rodriguez was hiding, but the robot had difficulty maneuvering because of conditions inside the home.
“It was quite crowded, with a lot of different items, but obviously we felt comfortable that he was in there,” said Colonel Chad Chronister with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Some neighbors stayed inside their homes as the standoff continued.
“It’s scary really, to live right here and this stuff is going on right down the street. I have two grandchildren that live with me, and you know this is not right,” said Larry Moore, who lives just a few doors down from the standoff.
The SWAT team used a small explosive device to distract Rodriguez and then entered the home.
Rodriguez gave up and was taken into custody.
“Fortunately for everyone involved, it was enough to be able to gain his attention, where he did indeed then successfully surrender,” said Chronister.
