Driver fatally shot after running down 4 people in ‘violent rampage,’ Florida cops say

A motorist on a “violent rampage” was killed by police after he struck pedestrians at four different locations in Tampa, Florida, investigators say.

One victim died and the three others were injured, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said during a news conference.

Three police officers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

The suspect was identified as 48-year-old Jeremiah Bailey, and none of the victims were familiar with him, police said.

Investigators say the 911 calls began coming around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, after Bailey used his Honda “to intentionally block” 47-year-old Eric Archield’s vehicle outside a Dollar General store. Bailey then followed Archield to a nearby home, police said.

“He struck Archield with his car. Archield’s friend intervened, firing a gun to stop Bailey, who then fled the area,” police said. “Archield suffered minor injuries from being struck by the mirror of Bailey’s car and was treated at the scene by Tampa Fire Rescue.”

Soon, after, multiple witnesses then reported seeing the vehicle leave the roadway and “intentionally strike 43-year-old Jesse Rickett” on MacDill Avenue, police said. Rickett is hospitalized in critical, but stable, condition, police said.

“Bailey then intentionally struck and tragically killed an adult ... male who was walking in the 5800 block of Interbay (Boulevard),“ police said. The victim was later identified as Richard Padilla, 37, according to a case update.

A Tampa police officer located the Honda in the 3100 block of Wyoming (Avenue), where Bailey was seen “removing a bicycle from the trunk,” authorities said.

“The officer quickly exited his police vehicle, ordering Bailey to stop. However, Bailey discarded the bike, ran back into the car, and fled at a high rate of speed,” police said.

“Before officers could locate him, Bailey struck 41-year-old Timothy Harden, who was crossing the street at West Shore (Boulevard) and Lemon (Street) with his wife, who called 911. She informed the dispatcher that ‘this car jumped over the curb and swerved to hit him!’” police said.

Harden “was conscious and alert” as he was being taken to a hospital for evaluation, police said. His wife was not injured.

A police pursuit of Bailey began on Lemon Street and ended when a patrol car struck and immobilized his vehicle on I-275, officials said.

Bailey was shot and killed when he got out of the car and was seen “reaching for what (officers) believed was a weapon,” Bercaw said.

Seven officers fired their weapons, police said.

“No firearm was found on the suspect or in his car as of this release; however, officers are still conducting searches of the areas of travel,” police said.

The three injured officers “suffered wounds that currently appear to be consistent with a ricochet or debris, and not from a direct gunshot,” police said. All have been released from the hospital.

The three officers were identified as:

• Sgt. Joe Ltief, 10+ years with Tampa Police
• Officer Rachel Carr, 5+ years with Tampa Police
• Officer Joseph Barry, 4 years with Tampa Police

Investigators say Bailey “has an extensive criminal history including battery on law enforcement officer, battery on an EMT, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.” He was released from Florida State Prison in October 2022, police said.

This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 6:52 AM with the headline "Driver fatally shot after running down 4 people in ‘violent rampage,’ Florida cops say."