Two Bradenton police officers hospitalized after suspect strikes them with vehicle

Two Bradenton police officers were hospitalized early Sunday morning after being struck by a suspect's vehicle during a pursuit. One senior patrol officer remains in intensive care with a traumatic brain injury, while a second officer suffered lower-body injuries and has been released.

The incident began around 3:20 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a man with a gun harassing customers at a Wawa convenience store. According to police, the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Dejerrian D. Murray, struck the two officers while attempting to flee the scene. During the escape, officers fired at the suspect's vehicle.

A multi-agency pursuit involving the Bradenton Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol followed the vehicle toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and back to Bradenton. The chase ended when Murray crashed at 1st Street and 10th Avenue West.

Murray was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and subsequently booked into the Manatee County jail. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding, hit-and-run with serious bodily injury, and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer-involved shooting.