Largo Police Department detectives are investigating after a good Samaritan found a man lying in the road and tried to help the man, but wound up shooting him when the man lunged at him with a knife.
“Our officers responded to what would have been a hit-and-run crash,” said police spokesman Lt. Randall Chaney.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Investigators spoke to witnesses who said they saw pedestrian lying in the road and assumed he had been hit by a car.
While trying to help the pedestrian, bystanders urged him to stay down and wait for medical assistance. The pedestrian collected his belongings and began walking away from the scene.
The good Samaritans followed, Chaney said.
After walking for a block and a half, the pedestrian became angry.
“The pedestrian turned, opened a box cutter and lunged at the good Samaritan. The good Samaritan apparently felt like his life was in danger and took out a handgun and shot the pedestrian in the leg,” Chaney said Monday afternoon.
The good Samaritan, who hasn’t been identified, immediately stopped to help the man and applied a tourniquet to the pedestrian as paramedics arrived.
The pedestrian was transported to Bayfront Medical where he underwent surgery for the gunshot wound. Detectives haven’t been able to interview him at this time because of his medical condition.
The good Samaritan was detained and interviewed by detectives. He was subsequently released.
Detectives are investigating and charges may be pending for one or more of the parties.
