Executive Summary
- Deputies responded to shots fired near Alafia State Park on Thanksgiving at 1:17 p.m.
- Three suspects fled into a body of water to evade police; divers were deployed.
- Joseph Rolon Fernandez, 33, was arrested and weapons were recovered.
- Two additional suspects remain at large.
One suspect is in custody while two others remain at large following a report of shots fired near Alafia State Park on Thanksgiving Day, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
The incident began around 1:17 p.m. when HCSO received a 911 call regarding gunfire in the vicinity of the park in Lithia, Florida. Upon arrival, patrol deputies and the aviation unit located three individuals armed with long guns. Law enforcement officials stated that upon sighting the deputies, the three suspects fled into a nearby body of water in an attempt to evade capture.
The HCSO Underwater Recovery Team was subsequently deployed to the scene. According to the Sheriff’s Office, divers located 33-year-old Joseph Rolon Fernandez hiding in thick brush within the water. During a search of the immediate area where Fernandez was apprehended, deputies recovered a Benelli M2 12-gauge shotgun, a Savage A17 17HMR rifle, and two flashlights.
Investigative Status
Authorities continue to search for the two outstanding suspects involved in the incident. The recovery of firearms and the alleged discharge of weapons near a public recreation area highlights the operational priority for local law enforcement to locate the remaining individuals to ensure public safety. Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
