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Bartow police shoot, kill carjacking suspect who pulled a gun, sheriff’s officials say

Suspect taken to hospital, no officers hurt

police lights (FILE) (Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County man was shot by Bartow police officers after he carjacked a couple, crashed the car, tried to carjack some more vehicles and then pulled a gun on the police officers, according to law enforcement agencies.

The incident happened Monday afternoon outside a Ford dealership on U.S. 98.

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The Bartow Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Joshua Walker, 32, was trying to get away because he had outstanding warrants against him, but when his mother refused to give him a car, he took a gun, threatened suicide by cop and left her home in Highland City.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Walker then used the gun to carjack a couple at a nearby liquor store. At the intersection of U.S. 98 and Ernest Smith Boulevard, Judd said Walker rammed two vehicles, traveled across the road, struck another car and then careened off the road entirely.

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Police said he got out of the car, tried to carjack two other vehicles, then started walking down U.S. 98. By then, police had gotten calls about an armed disturbance and recognized Walker from the description.

When they tried to confront him, Bartow police said Walker pulled his gun and pointed it at one of the two officers. The officers shot Walker, who was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he later died.

The officers were not hurt, and they have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.

Judd said Walker’s outstanding warrants included possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and failure to appear.

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