Investigators Name Persons Of Interest In Deputy Shooting


POSTED: 6:31 a.m. EDT October 11, 2005
UPDATED: 12:48 p.m. EDT October 11, 2005


Story by wftv.com

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The gunman who shot an Orange County deputy twice remained on the run Tuesday, but detectives had an idea of whom they were looking for, releasing a composite sketch and the names of two persons of interest.

Brothers Altravious Holmes and Jeffrey Forbes were named late Tuesday morning as two persons of interest in the case, one of whom may be the shooter. Investigators were also seeking a white man in a blue green sedan who was believed to be involved in a drug deal with the shooting suspect just prior to the incident.

Investigators said the suspect shot Deputy First-Class Adam Pierce, 25, at the Marathon gas station at 41st Street and Orange Blossom Trail just after 6:30 Monday night. Now, investigators think they know who their suspect is and, early Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office released a composite sketch of the would-be cop killer, considered armed and extremely dangerous. Later Tuesday, investigators named the two aforementioned persons of interest.

"There are a lot of people out here hurting. We got a deputy in bad shape because he was out here doing his job," said Jim Solomons, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The shooting happened at 41st and OBT around 6:30 Monday night, after the first deputy to respond disrupted a possible drug deal in the parking lot of the gas station between a man in a car and a man on a bike. A second deputy, Adam Pierce, arrived moments later. The suspect on the bike took off. The first deputy stunned the suspect on the bike with a taser, but he shot back.

When it was over, Deputy Pierce had been hit twice and the gunman was on the run. For hours, heavily-armed officers from nine different agencies participated in a door-to-door manhunt, executing at least three search warrants. But, by two in the morning, they dove undercover, releasing a sketch and begging the public for help.

"You have to consider anybody who would, in cold blood, shoot a police officer is a threat to the entire community. Absolutely looking for a very dangerous individual," said Chief Ken Cox, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Early Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office said Deputy Pierce was in serious but stable condition. Previously, Sheriff Kevin Beary said Pierce was responding to doctors and was squeezing hands.

The Pierce family is no stranger to law enforcement. Deputy Pierce's brother and father also work with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

"I've talked to both Matt and dad and his mom. Unfortunately, they understand the perils of law enforcement, living through it again," said Sheriff Beary.

Deputy Pierce was wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting. He's a deputy first class and has been working for the department for five years. He is not married and doesn't have any children.

Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Investigators are hoping to hear from the man who had been sitting in the car, described as a blue green sedan. Currently, that man faces no charges and investigators said he could make one anonymous call and get a would-be cop killer off the streets.

shoot 1st taze later..