TAMPA, FL – Tragedy struck a Florida family on the eve of Father’s Day when a 19-year-old killed his father and shot his mother, according to local authorities. The incident escalated to a violent confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in the young man’s death and injuries to a sheriff’s deputy.

On the night leading into Father’s Day, Hillsborough County deputies responded to a distressing call from Rebecca Ann Themelis, 48, reporting that her son, Christos Alexander Themelis Jr., had fatally shot his father, 51-year-old Christos Byron Themelis. During the emergency call, gunfire was heard in the background, adding urgency to the grave situation.

Upon arrival at the residential neighborhood near Tampa, deputies found Themelis Jr.’s mother outside the home. As deputies began to engage with her, Themelis Jr. appeared and shot her in the head. A shootout ensued as deputies confronted the armed suspect, resulting in one deputy being wounded. Despite deputies’ efforts to neutralize the threat, Themelis Jr. retreated back into the house.

In the midst of the chaos, Deputy Shane McGough, 26, sustained a gunshot wound. His body camera footage captured the aftermath of the incident as fellow officers applied a tourniquet to his leg before he was transported to the hospital. McGough, a member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office since 2022, is currently recovering.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was summoned to the scene, deploying a robot to assess the interior of the house. It discovered the deceased father and, upon entry, found Themelis Jr. also dead from gunshot wounds. Rebecca Ann Themelis was pronounced dead at the scene as well.

Sheriff Chris Chronister informed the press that law enforcement had been called to the Themelis residence multiple times since 2021 for incidents related to the son’s mental health and domestic violence against his parents. The sheriff described Themelis Jr. as a “monster” responsible for the devastating outcome, including the injuries to Deputy McGough and the deaths of his parents.

This catastrophic event highlights the gravity of domestic violence and mental health crises, underscoring the importance of community and law enforcement awareness and intervention strategies.