22-092***UPDATE - State Attorney`s Office Releases Results Of Investigation Into Shooting Involving Officer; Shooting Justified***Detectives Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting in St. Petersburg
Taskforce Investigation
***Update as of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2022***
The State Attorney's Office released the results of their investigation involving the St. Petersburg Police Department officer-involved shooting of 31-year-old Cody Kiley.
In a letter sent to Chief Holloway on Monday, November 14, 2022, State Attorney Bruce Barlett stated, "As a result of the investigation conducted by my Office, I have determined that Officer Stephen York was in the lawful performance of his legal duties while he was attempting to apprehend Cody Kiley. Cody Kiley's actions of pushing the firearm into his mother's head, and discharging the firearm inside the residence, constituted the forceable felonies of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault, as well as the felony of Shooting in an Occupied Dwelling. Officer York had reason to believe that Cody Kiley posed a threat of death or great bodily harm to him, and other officers present, when he turned towards them, armed with a firearm, having refused repeated commands to drop the weapon.”
The State Attorney's Office concluded that the death of Cody Kiley was justifiable homicide, pursuant to Florida Statute 776.012.
State Attorney's letter:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TuK8T1WxruCYKhVzAVQjmGSjNcugaXIC/view?usp=share_link.
***END OF UPDATE***
Original News Release:
Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force
-Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
-Clearwater Police Department
-Pinellas Park Police Department
State Attorney’s Office – Sixth Judicial Circuit
St. Petersburg Police Department
Cody J. Kiley (Suspect – Deceased)
DOB: 09/04/1991
Address: 4533 20th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Police Officer Stephen York (Officer – Uninjured)
Age: 35
Date of hire: 03/06/2017
PINELLAS COUNTY - Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.
At approximately 3:07 a.m. on September 12, 2022, St. Petersburg Police officers responded to 4533 20th Avenue North after a report of an armed subject. The caller reported the male inside the residence had a gun and he was actively threatening her. Detectives say the female and a 4-year-old child retreated to the back bathroom of the residence.
According to detectives, as St. Petersburg Police Officers arrived on scene, they could hear the male, later identified as 31-year-old Cody Kiley, in the backyard. K9 Officer York and his K9 partner Loki entered the backyard and confronted Kiley, who was still armed with the firearm. Officer York released Loki, who engaged with Kiley. Detectives say Kiley refused to drop the firearm, continuing to threaten Officer York, at which time Officer York fired at Kiley and struck him.
Kiley was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin has been notified.
In 2020, the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Taskforce was created to ensure the investigations conducted into law enforcement use of deadly force are thorough, complete, and objective. The purpose of this taskforce is to make sure that officer-involved shootings in Pinellas County are investigated by an independent agency and not by the agency involved in the use of deadly force.
Officer York will be placed on routine administrative leave.
Chief Deputy Halle held a press conference on scene and it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQXQjzv-7Xw
The investigation continues.
