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Hostage shooting timeline

A synposis of the events leading to Friday's shooting, according to Tampa police officials:

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 7, 2005

9 p.m. Thursday: Gary T. Brewer is armed with a sawed-off semi-automatic shotgun inside the Grand Key condominium, 4207 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Apt. 6307, that he shares with girlfriend, Cynthia G. Chin. He keeps Chin there for several hours. Police later find crack cocaine in the apartment, and they say he was on a drug binge.

4:30 a.m. Friday: Chin escapes the apartment and takes refuge with neighbor Anthony Jackson, who calls police. Another Grand Key resident calls police after he hears screaming and sees Brewer with a gun.

5:18 a.m.: Police go to the Luxury Motel, 4608 E Hillsborough Ave., after William Beamon calls 911 from the Citgo gas station across the street to report that a man he knows as Brewer is holding his girlfriend, Tracy Wood, hostage in Room 11.

5:37 a.m.: Officers knock on the motel room door, trying to make contact with Brewer.

5:38 a.m.: Officers call for the SWAT team.

5:42 a.m.: Officers hear shots fired inside the motel room. They later learn Brewer shot Beamon's dog, Mia.

5:43 a.m.: Brewer walks outside with a gun pointed at Wood's head. He fires once at an officer hiding behind a trash can. Four officers fire several times at Brewer. Brewer and Wood are hit. Brewer dies at the scene. Wood dies later at Tampa General Hospital.

[Last modified October 7, 2005, 21:25:43]