Plant City Police Shoot Suicidal Man With Gun

PLANT CITY, FL — Plant City Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday, Dec. 24, in which one man died.

At 1:56 a.m., Plant City Police Officer Thomas Trimble was called to Cynthia Garden Apartments, 1204 W. Risk St., Plant City, where the caller requested an ambulance for someone believed to have shot himself.

When he arrived, Trimble saw Kaleb Anthony Pedone, 20, of Plant City, walking away from a vehicle, leaving the door ajar. Trimble told Pedone to stop and identify himself, and then noticed Pedone had an object in his hand.

Pedone began to back away from Trimble, ignoring his commands to identify himself and say what he was holding. Eventually, Pedone admitted that he had a gun. Trimble drew his service weapon and ordered Pedone to drop the gun.

Instead, Pedone put the gun to his chest and fired a round while a backup officer was standing nearby. Trimble, fearing for the backup officer's safety, fired two rounds toward Pedone.

Plant City Fire Rescue administered first aid, however, attempts to save Pedone were unsuccessful. The man died at the scene from the self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Trimble, a one-year veteran of the police department, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney's Office responded to conduct independent investigations. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit responded to collect forensic evidence.