20-125 Suspect Commits Suicide Prior to Arrest

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit

Ryan Rush (Suspect – Deceased)
DOB: 09/26/2001
Address: Transient

What:
A suspect with active probable cause for his arrest has committed suicide prior to being arrested.

When:
The suspect committed suicide on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Where:
The suspect committed suicide while inside of his vehicle in an alley behind 1630 49^th Street South.

Why/How:
A suspect with active probable cause for his arrest for Aggravated Assault and Obstruction shot himself during law enforcement contact.

According to investigators, deputies approached 18-year-old Ryan Rush’s vehicle while he was parked in an alley behind 1630 49^th Street South. Deputies had developed probable cause for his arrest stemming from an incident that occurred on August 30, 2020.  In that incident deputies were called to the area in the 4600 block of 40^th Street North, where a female reported Rush pointed a firearm at her while she was walking her dog.  When deputies arrived to the scene for the August 30^th incident they located Rush seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle.  As deputies approached the vehicle, Rush fled. 

Through various investigative techniques, deputies were able to locate Rush driving the same vehicle in the area of 17^th Avenue South and 49^th Street South.  A traffic stop was conducted and before deputies could make contact with Rush, he shot himself.    

Deputies on scene provided first aid until medics arrived.

He was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

The investigation continues.