Suspects in reported abduction found in Florida; one suspect dead
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has confirmed that Blake Fitzgerald, a suspect in Sunday’s abduction and home invasion case, has been killed.
Brittany Harper, the female suspect in the case, was wounded, taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Vestavia Hills Police obtained warrants for Fitzgerald and Harper, both Missouri residents, charging Fitzgerald with first degree burglary, one count first degree kidnapping and one count first degree theft of property. Charges for Harper were first degree kidnapping and first degree theft of property.
Hoover police report the suspects were also linked to another abduction and an attempted robbery.
The attempted robbery occurred around 7:45 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the McDonald’s at 1731 Montgomery Highway in Hoover.
A manager reported she was approached by a man with a handgun as she was exiting her car. The suspect demanded cash and the victim’s car keys, according to police.
The victim threw her keys on the ground, yelled for help and ran toward the McDonalds.
The suspects left the area in a blue Volkswagen Jetta with a New Jersey license plate. Police report about 15 minutes later, the same suspect in the blue Jetta committed the home-invasion robbery in Vestavia Hills.
The Jetta used in the attempted robbery was found abandoned in Vestavia Hills, according to Hoover police. Detectives also learned the Jetta was stolen during another robbery that occurred in Tuscaloosa earlier on Sunday.
The victim, a male motel employee, was robbed at gunpoint and forced into his own vehicle, according to police, and then driven to the Hoover area. The victim was reportedly in the Jetta during the attempted robbery. He was found unharmed in Vestavia Hills.
Fitzgerald and Harper were also wanted for an armed robbery and kidnapping case in Perry, Georgia.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office has a press conference planned for 9:30 a.m. This post will be updated as more information is released.