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Suspect shot to death by police officer

Temple Terrace police officials say the officer had to shoot the man after he attacked him with a steel pipe.

By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
Published February 26, 2005

TEMPLE TERRACE - A police officer shot and killed a man Friday while responding to a domestic violence call after the man allegedly attacked him with a steel pipe, police said.

Senior Police Officer Jose Felix was called to a domestic disturbance about 3:30 p.m. at 5326 Rainbow Drive and was confronted in the driveway by William David Basham, said Temple Terrace police Chief Tony Velong.

Basham, 38, struck Felix with a steel construction reinforcement bar that had a spiked end, Velong said.

As Felix backed away, Basham kept coming at him, Velong said.

Retreating, Felix tried to zap Basham with a Taser gun but missed.

Felix then shot Basham once in the upper body with his service revolver, killing him, Velong said.

Felix was treated and released at a local hospital with minor injuries, police said.

The person who called police to the scene was Basham's grandfather, who lived at the Rainbow Drive address, Velong said.

At the same time, a female relative of Basham was at the police station registering a domestic violence injunction obtained against Basham, Velong said.

Hillsborough County jail records show Basham was arrested twice in the past three years: in 2003 on charges of disorderly conduct, two counts of exposure of sexual organs and two counts of an unnatural and lascivious act; and last month on charges of domestic violence battery, obstruction or opposing an officer without violence and tampering with evidence.

State prison records indicate Basham was placed on two years probation on Feb. 23 after being convicted on charges of intimidating a witness and misdemeanor battery. Felix, a defensive tactics instructor, has more than a dozen years on the force and has never shot anyone, Velong said. According to procedure, he will be placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal review of the incident.

[Last modified February 26, 2005, 01:14:15]