Tampa Teenager Investigated in Parents' Deaths
A teenager in Tampa is under investigation for allegedly killing their parents and shooting a sheriff's deputy. The incident occurred on February 22. Local authorities have not yet released further details as the investigation is ongoing.
- The deceased have been identified as Christos Byron Themelis, 51, and Rebecca Ann Themelis, 48; the sheriff's office identified their 19-year-old son as Christos Alexander Themelis, Jr. - The shooting occurred at the family's residence on the 14000 block of Cactus Wren Place in Tampa. - According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff, deputies had been dispatched to the home on at least 10 prior occasions since 2021 for calls related to the son's mental health and instances of domestic violence. - Deputy Shane McGough, 26 years old, was shot in the leg and required surgery to remove the bullet; the procedure was successful. - The initial 911 call was made by Rebecca Themelis, who reported that her son had just shot her husband. - After shooting his mother, Themelis Jr. engaged in a shootout with deputies; five deputies returned fire, causing the teen to retreat into the house. - A SWAT team later deployed a robot into the home, which located the deceased father, before the team entered and found Themelis Jr. also dead. - While deputies wounded the teen during the shootout, authorities later reported that Christos Themelis Jr. died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
