Avondale man shot by Florida deputies after killing 2 in armed gas station robbery

PHOENIX — An Avondale man wanted for a double-murder in Florida was killed in a shootout with police last week, according to authorities.

Dominic Caroway, 44, allegedly killed two people and injured three others while robbing a gas station on Thursday, according to the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.

He fled the gas station before authorities arrived, but investigators identified him as the suspect through facial recognition technology and fingerprints with help from the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

Avondale man allegedly shot Florida deputy during pursuit

His vehicle was spotted in Columbia County, over 100 miles east of the crime scene, sparking a multi-agency pursuit.

The chase ended around 3:30 a.m. Friday when Caroway crashed in Suwannee County, which is about halfway between Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

He allegedly opened fire on responding officers, striking a deputy with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office.

However, the impact of the shot was minimized by the body armor Deputy Justin Dalton was wearing. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Caroway then fled on foot, triggering a massive manhunt.

How did fatal armed robbery suspect die?

Caroway was found around five hours later roughly two miles from the crash scene.

He was located around 8:30 a.m. when officers with the Live Oak Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious person.

When they arrived, Caroway once again opened fire, according to police.

Police officers returned fire, fatally shooting Caroway. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation.

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