***Update - State Attorney's Office Releases Results of Investigation into Officer-Involved Shooting; Shooting Justified***Detectives Investigate Pinellas Park Police Department Officer Involved Shooting (26-029)
***Update as of 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026***
The State Attorney's Office released the results of their investigation involving the Pinellas Park Police Department officer-involved shooting of 39-year-old Ryan Lecompte.
In a letter sent to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on Thursday, April 16, 2026, State Attorney Bruce Barlett stated, "As a result of our investigation, I have determined that Corporal Wesley Ducheney and Officer Ryan Poletz were in the lawful performance of their duties when Ryan Lecompte, while committing an aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, pointed a loaded Mossberg 500 20-gauge shotgun at members of the Pinellas Park Police Department. The force used by Corporal Wesley Ducheney and Officer Ryan Poletz was a reasonable response to the circumstances and Ryan Lecompte's actions. Additionally, Corporal Wesley Ducheney and Officer Ryan Poletz had every reason to be justifiably in fear for their own life, the lives of the other officers, and civilians in the immediate area.”
The State Attorney's Office concluded that the death of Ryan Lecompte was justifiable homicide, pursuant to Florida Statute 776.012, 776.032, 776.05(1), and 782.02.
The State Attorney's letter can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o6uNM72rdXCBsoICRoCggBzPlDoFImlc/view?usp=sharing
***END OF UPDATE***
***Original News Release***
PINELLAS PARK – Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Pinellas Park.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at approximately 11:33 a.m., Pinellas Park Police officers responded to the area of 6550 Briar Ridge Court North for reports of an armed person. The caller indicated the suspect had threatened him with a rifle.
According to detectives, when officers arrived, they tried to establish conversation with the suspect, later identified as 39-year-old Ryan Lecompte with no success. At this time, Pinellas Park Police activated the SWAT team to respond to the scene due to Lecompte being barricaded in the residence. After many hours of failed communication attempts with Lecompte, SWAT utilized the MRAP to breach the front door and a drone to get a visual on the suspect. The drone captured that Lecompte now had a shotgun which he then raised at officers. Corporal Wesley Ducheney and Officer Ryan Poletz were across the street and fired four rounds at Lecompte.
Lecompte was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Corporal Ducheney and Officer Poletz were both uninjured.
Sheriff Gualtieri stated “We don’t need to wait for him to shoot … especially with a guy that came out already three times with an AR15 and directly pointed that AR15 at the victim. He’s the one that created this situation and it is what it is.”
The investigation continues.
In 2020, the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force was created to ensure the investigations conducted into law enforcement use of deadly force are thorough, complete, and objective. The purpose of this task force 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.
Additional Information:
Ryan Lecompte(Suspect – Deceased)
DOB: 01/24/1987
Address: 6550 Briar Ridge Court North, Pinellas Park
Pinellas Park Police Corporal
Wesley Ducheney (Uninjured)
Age: 40
Hire Date: 12/26/2012
Pinellas Park Police
Officer Ryan Poletz (Uninjured)
Age: 32
Hire Date: 06/21/2017
