2 deputies injured, suspect killed in Ruskin ‘ambush’ shooting: Sheriff

RUSKIN, Fla. - A man who held his ex-girlfriend hostage overnight shot and wounded two Hillsborough County deputies during a Thursday afternoon ambush in Ruskin before a third deputy killed him, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.  

Ruskin shooting ambushes deputies

What we know:

 The sheriff said a woman went to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office substation on Thursday morning to request an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend, Chris Dmuchowski. 

She told investigators that Dmuchowski came to her home on Wednesday, bound her hands with zip ties, shoved a sock in her mouth, taped it shut and held her at gunpoint while threatening to kill her. 

She escaped on Thursday morning after convincing him she had an appointment, according to Sheriff Chad Chronister. 

Detectives tracked Dmuchowski to Shell Point Road in Ruskin using drone surveillance, believing he remained armed. When deputies pulled up to his location in a parking lot, the sheriff said Dmuchowski opened a vehicle side door and opened fire. 

One deputy fell after being struck in the face, and a second deputy was shot in the neck inside his patrol car before a third deputy took a tactical position and killed Dmuchowski, according to Chronister.

The sheriff says he was able to speak to the deputies after the shooting. 

"As you can imagine, in severe agony from the injuries and the sensitivity of where these injuries occurred, but both of them speaking, both of them grateful to be alive," Chronister said.

The deputies, identified as Dep. Sopharmony Moon and Dep. Colton Daniels, are now recovering in the hospital. 

The sheriff says Dmuchowski had one prior felony in Hillsborough County, but there were no documented cases of domestic violence.

Neighborhood reactions

Local perspective:

Jason Kimber lives about a block away from the shooting and described the gunfire he heard shortly before 10 a.m.

"Heard like five or six shots, loud," he said. "I thought it was like a nail gun or somebody banging on something."

Kimber says several road closures kept him stuck at home for hours throughout the HCSO investigation. Once deputies reopened the area, he got his first look at the aftermath, including Dmuchowski's bullet-riddled van.

"The maroon van had the windows all shot out," he said. "It was crazy, with the windows busted out and bullet holes."

Hillsborough County sheriff statement

What they're saying:

Sheriff Chad Chronister commended the responding deputies for stopping the suspect during the sudden attack. 

"Our suspect's reign of terror ended today because of the training, the bravery and heroic actions of each of these deputies," Chronister stated. 

"The hand of God was with our deputies here today," he added. "I don’t believe I can underscore the severity of what occurred here today enough. Our suspect ambushed our deputies from the moment they arrived on scene. He was intent on taking the life of a deputy sheriff."