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Woman bystander shot by Pinellas deputy after boyfriend fires flare gun

No deputies were hurt, the sheriff's office says.
Credit: Sky10
A Pinellas County deputy is involved in a shooting at an apartment complex.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- A Pinellas County sheriff's deputy would visit an apartment complex twice Monday, but the second time he fired his weapon, inadvertently shooting a woman.

The first visit started out relatively unremarkable. Deputy Joseph Wodraska was sent around 9:20 a.m. to the Stillwater Palms Apartments near Belcher and Cypress Pond roads on a call about a car with broken-out windows, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Gia Tomossone, 27, complained someone busted out the windows to her Cadillac. Wodraska made the rounds, seeing if anyone knew who damaged her car. A man who lived next door to the woman, 39-year-old Joshua D'Anastasio, denied knowing anything.

The deputy then left the complex, only to return around 12:20 p.m.

Credit: 10News
Gia Tomossone, 27, complained someone busted out the windows to her Cadillac.

Tomossone said she and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Kevin King, noticed D'Anastasio acting strange and hiding an object in the dumpster.

Wh Wodraska spoke with Tomossone, an argument ensued between D'Anastasio and King, the sheriff's office says.

D'Anastasio made mention he had something for him and returned with what appeared to be a gun.

When Wodraska saw the muzzle flash he returned multiple rounds.

They all missed D'Anastasio but went through a glass door. As other Pinellas County deputies yelled at D'Anastasio, 42-year-old Gwen Stubbs -- his girlfriend -- came out of the apartment unit bleeding.

She was shot in her left arm and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Wodraska said he never saw Stubbs because she was inside the apartment and behind the glass door.

D'Anastasio was arrested and charged with a count of aggravated battery with a firearm; it later was found to be a flare gun.

Wodraska is expected to be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

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