Armed man shot by police dies
ST. PETERSBURG — A man shot by police Sunday night died this morning, authorities said.
Roberto Garcia Lara, 42, of 6528 12th St. N, was shot by a police officer who responded to a report of a domestic dispute. He died at Bayfront Medical Center sometime after midnight.
The officer was identified as Karl Lounge, 41, who has been with the Police Department since 1990. He was placed on administrative leave with pay, standard procedure for an officer involved in a shooting.
The incident started when police received a call from an alarm company about 9 p.m. in reference to a woman screaming.
Police said the woman may have pushed a panic button on the alarm system at the home at 6528 12th St. N. Representatives with the alarm company heard the woman yelling and notified police.
When officers arrived, they found a "very emotional" woman in the front yard, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Doniel. The woman told police her husband was suicidal.
"She told officers they were having an argument and that he wanted to kill himself," Doniel said.
An unidentified sergeant fired "several shots" at the man when he came out the front door and raised a handgun at officers in the front yard, Doniel said.
The man collapsed on the front porch and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries, Doniel said. He was in surgery late Sunday but later died at Bayfront. No other injuries were reported.
Neighbor Lisa Rummel said she was eating dinner when she heard gunshots. "I had the windows open, and I heard three shots — bam, bam, bam," said Rummel, 44.
As is standard procedure, the sergeant will be reassigned while the shooting is investigated, Doniel said.
Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer
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