Clearwater officer shoots and kills 16-year-old boy

CLEARWATER -- A police officer shot and killed a 16-year-old boy Monday evening after the youth threatened the officer with a knife, Clearwater police said.

Police identified the boy as Brian Hickman of Palm Harbor. His family was notified of his death late Monday night.

The shooting occurred about 5 p.m. in a home in the Countryside Woods subdivision near Countryside Boulevard N and Curlew Road.

Police were summoned to a construction site about two blocks west of the subdivision Monday evening. At least one caller told police that young people armed with knives were fighting at the site, police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.

By the time police arrived, the youths who were fighting had left. Officers were given information that led them to a home in the subdivision, Unit 57. There, they encountered a young man at the door, Shelor said.

He warned officers that Hickman was inside and might be dangerous. When police entered, Hickman, armed with an 8-inch carving knife, confronted the officer, Shelor said.

"He was told repeatedly to drop the knife," Shelor said. "He made a threatening gesture at the officer. He came at the officer with the knife.

"Clearly, the officer felt his safety was threatened," Shelor said.

The officer shot Hickman, who died in the home.

Police on Monday night did not release the name of the officer who fired. Shelor said he is a 10-year patrol veteran who has not been involved in a shooting in his career or had any complaints of excessive force filed against him.

"He's a very calm, reserved, level-headed patrol officer," Shelor said.

The officer was placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine after a shooting.

The incident will be reviewed by the department's criminal investigations division, as well as the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, which also is routine. The Police Department's Office of Professional Standards also will review the shooting.

"They will examine whether policies and procedures were followed," Shelor said.

The home is in a tree-lined and circular subdivision that neighbors described as quiet and peaceful. The residence where the shooting occurred is occupied by James and Cindy Andrew and their two teenage sons, Jim and Tim, according to neighbors and acquaintances.

Shelor said one of the Andrew brothers was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital because he was upset after the shooting. He was later released. The other was taken to police headquarters to be interviewed.

Classmates and friends of the Andrew brothers came to the scene as word of the shooting spread. Classmates thought the fight at the construction site might have been over a girl.

Ryan Perrin, 16, said he was supposed to hang out with Tim Andrew on Monday night.

"I come out and chill with him a lot," Ryan said. "We just drive around and chill and do what everybody else does."

The Andrew family rents the home from Tom Lanzillotti, who said some neighbors had complained about juvenile problems that they believed stemmed from the home. The homeowners association held a meeting recently to seek solutions to the problems.

Lanzillotti said he was the only one to stand up and defend the family.

"They paid the rent on time. They're good parents," he said. "It was just typical teenage stuff."

Lanzillotti said he thought teenage friends who visited the home caused the most problems. Neighbors had complained about teens swimming in the pool after hours and possibly drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Teens also were accused of throwing a firecracker at a mail carrier, Lanzillotti said.

"Every time there's been problems, it's been with the friends," he said.

Lanzillotti said he learned about the shooting Monday night when a neighbor called him and said: "I told you so."

-- Chris Tisch can be reached at 445-4156 or tisch@sptimes.com .

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