Tampa Man Tries To Gun Down Deputies

Hillsborough — On April 7 at approximately 2:13 p.m., the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call for assistance in reference to a domestic-related disturbance at 11010 Streamside Drive.

Witnesses related that 21 year old Angel Jordanny Rodriguez Aviles came to the residence looking for his girlfriend. He was agitated and demanded that she leave with him. A witness attempted to intervene at which time the defendant pulled a handgun out and fired one round into the ground.

When a witness told Aviles that law enforcement had been contacted, the defendant replied, he would have to be killed by police.

A physical altercation ensued between the defendant and his girlfriend and they went to the ground. A witness ran towards them as Corporal Brian LaVigne arrived.

As Corporal LaVigne approached, he observed the defendant, armed with a firearm. Aviles was actively engaged in a verbal altercation with his girlfriend and a witness. Corporal LaVigne began giving verbal commands to the defendant to drop the weapon. The defendant refused multiple commands and raised the handgun, a Glock 23 .40 caliber, and fired the handgun at Corporal LaVigne. At that time, the witness and the defendant’s girlfriend went to the ground attempting to avoid being struck by bullets.

Deputy Michael Diaz arrived and along with Corporal LaVigne, returned fire at Aviles and took cover behind a patrol car. Aviles maneuvered into a position to gain a clear line of sight of Corporal LaVigne and Deputy Diaz and fired his weapon at them again.

Corporal LaVigne and Deputy Diaz continued to return gunfire and move into positions of cover. Each time Corporal LaVigne and Deputy Diaz tried to get cover, the defendant maneuvered himself, to include advancing towards Corporal LaVigne and Deputy Diaz while firing his weapon. During this exchange of gunfire, Corporal LaVigne’s Sheriff’s Office vehicle was struck multiple times on the driver’s side front fender, windshield, window and hood.

Corporal LaVigne and Deputy Diaz continued to return fire and struck Aviles twice in left leg, after which he was taken into custody.

Aviles was treated at the hospital, then released and booked into Orient Road Jail. He faces two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer.