Safety Harbor Man Fatally Shot By Deputies After Killing Mother

SAFETY HARBOR — A Safety Harbor man has been fatally shot by deputies after killing his mother, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said 35-year-old John J. Clark was shot Saturday morning after pointing a 12-gauge shotgun at deputies.

Just before 2:30 a.m., the sheriff's office received a call from a friend of Clark's in Illinois. He said Clark called to tell him that he'd shot his mother.

Deputies went to the home of Susan O. Clark in the 2300 block of Flanders Way and found the 64-year-old woman dead of a gunshot wound. There was no one else in the home.

Deputies began searching for Clark and, at 4:21 a.m., spotted him driving his mother's Volkswagen Eos. They attempted to pull him over but Clark refused to stop. Instead, he headed back to the home he shared with his mother and drove slowly past the house. Detectives were standing in the road conducting a briefing when Clark drove the Volkswagen through the crime scene.

Once again, deputies ordered Clark to stop, but he ignored their orders, according to Gualtieri. Three deputies approached the passenger side of the Volkswagen and saw that Clark was holding a 12-gauge shotgun on his lap. They ordered him to drop it. Instead, Clark picked up the shotgun and pointed it at them.

In fear for their lives, Gualtieri said the three deputies opened fire, striking Clark several times.

Deputies administered first aid until paramedics arrived to take Clark to St. Joseph's Hospital. Clark was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m.

Following standard procedure, the deputies - Brian Wilson, 37; Brennen Wede, 26; and Chris Amatruda, 33 - were placed on administrative leave while the shooting is under investigation.