Florida man killed in I-70, I-79 police shooting was wanted for murder
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
State police Capt. Joseph Ruggery speaks during a news conference Friday about the shooting of Florida’s fugitive Steve Brooks.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
State police shot fugitive Steven Brooks of Florida on Interstate 70 near the north junction with Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township.
Steven Jamine Brooks, also known as Siddeq Shujaa Ma’Shooq
The Florida man shot and killed late Thursday by state police after he ran during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 near the north junction with Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township was wanted by police in Florida for allegedly killing a woman.
Steven Jamine Brooks, 45, also known as Siddeq Shujaa Ma’Shooq, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was wanted in the Feb. 12 shooting of Caroline Morton-Hicks in Pinellas Park, Fla. News reports said that Morton-Hicks was a musician and Brooks’ landlord.
Brooks also was involved in a standoff in northern Alabama earlier this week.
State police Capt. Joseph Ruggery said a warrant had been issued for Brooks’ arrest March 28 on a charge of first-degree murder in Pinellas County, Fla. On Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals, along with a SWAT team from Madison County, Ala., surrounded a home in Harvest, Ala., and attempted to take Brooks into custody. He managed to flee from the house, driving at a high rate of speed before going into a swamp. Brooks ran into a wooded area, stealing the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that he was driving when troopers tried to stop him 26 hours after that incident, about 11:22 p.m. on I-70 westbound at the off-ramp to Murtland Avenue.
“This epitomizes the fact that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop,” Ruggery said.
The two troopers, who are not being identified, had contact with Brooks before he sped off. Ruggery said Brooks made a U-turn and was going east in the westbound lanes.
Brooks’ truck went off the road and hit a concrete bridge pillar, coming to a stop. He reportedly got out of his vehicle and refused troopers’ commands to stop. He fled on foot, scaling a fence to the ramp below as the troopers followed.
“The troopers repeatedly gave verbal commands for him to show his hands,” Ruggery said, adding they saw Brooks had a gun in his hand. “When he turned back to them, both troopers fired multiple shots at him with their department-issued Sig Sauers.”
Brooks was found with a .40-caliber Beretta loaded with 10 rounds. The gun had been reported stolen in Florida in 2014. Brooks died at the scene before he could be treated. He was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m. Friday, said Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.
Ruggery said firing their weapon is not something an officer takes lightly.
“These decisions have to be made in a microsecond,” the captain added.
Ruggery said the state police major case team was activated. Since the troopers involved are assigned to the Washington station, the crime unit from the Uniontown station is investigating the shooting. Ruggery said the investigation will be thorough and unbiased.The two troopers involved were placed on paid administrative leave.
District Attorney Eugene Vittone also responded to the scene. When the investigation by the state police is completed, the information will be given to his office to determine whether the shooting was justified. Warco said he will schedule an inquest after he receives all of the necessary reports.
“We are truly blessed that no bystanders were injured,” Ruggery said, adding a few motorists stopped and stayed in the area to give their information to investigators.
Court records in Florida show that Brooks has a criminal record dating back to 1989. In 1991, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of third-degree murder. He also was convicted over the years of aggravated assault, theft and escape.
Anyone who may have been traveling on I-70 and witnessed the incident are asked to call state police at 724-223-5200.
Luke Campbell/Observer-Reporter
Luke Campbell/Observer-Reporter
State police were called to the scene of a reported shooting late Thursday night at the north junction of Route 79 and Interstate 70.