Teen ‘Monster’ Slaughters Parents, Injures Deputies in Shootout

(StraightNews.org) – A Florida teenager died in a shootout with police after murdering both of his parents. Officers from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots at a residence in Tampa. The caller was 48-year-old Rebecca Ann Themelis, and while she was on the line to 911 dispatchers, further shots rang out.

When deputies arrived, they found 19-year-old Christos Alexander Themelis Jr. and his mother outside the house. The teenager proceeded to shoot his mother in the head and open fire against assembled law enforcement officers. He had already killed his father. When struck by deputies’ bullets, the 19-year-old barricaded himself in his home but soon died from his injuries.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said his deputies arrived at a chaotic scene and quickly neutralized the danger Themelis posed to the local community. One deputy sustained a gunshot wound but is expected to recover fully.

Subsequent reports indicate that police had attended the Themelis home on at least ten previous occasions when the son was violent toward his parents. Sheriff Chronister said, “We need to find out what happened and how this mentally ill subject had access to any type of firearms.” The shooter’s gun had previously been confiscated due to repeated run-ins with police.

Injured officer Shane McGough left the hospital as colleagues gathered to wish him well. The deputy underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his leg and returned home to grateful applause. Sheriff Chronister said he was relieved and thankful that McGough would recover and paid tribute to deputies who took quick action by applying a tourniquet to stop his bleeding and dragging him out of harm’s way. Chronister said the sheriff’s department would continue to support Mr. McGough and his family throughout his recuperation.

Themelis’ Facebook profile suggests he had a close relationship with his mother, as he had posted several photographs of them together. He shot and killed her as she walked toward deputies at their request.