LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A 43-year-old man accused of killing a 47-year-old woman remains hospitalized at Gulf Coast Hospital in Lee County as of Thursday, with deputies reporting his condition is serious. The incident follows the fatal shooting of Natasha “Tasha” Moses, a mother of four who worked for the city of St. Petersburg for 12 years. Detectives have identified Ladavion King as the suspect responsible for the death, which occurred on Wednesday in the Childs Park area.
Standoff and Law Enforcement Response
A spokesperson for the St. Petersburg Police Department stated that Moses worked as a city sanitation technician and died following what was described as a “targeted attack” on 12th Avenue South, near 40th Street. Following the shooting, King fled in a silver pickup truck. He was pursued southbound on Interstate 75, where a Florida Highway Patrol trooper performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT maneuver) to stop the vehicle.
Arrest and Hospitalization
According to deputies, King refused to exit his truck after it was disabled. This led to a standoff involving Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Alico Road. The situation escalated into a law enforcement-involved shooting. King is now being held at the hospital while authorities continue their investigation.
Official Statements
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno released a statement expressing pride in the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies who responded to the barricaded subject situation. He specifically commended personnel from the special operations unit, crisis negotiation team, advanced technology support unit, K-9 division, and patrol units for their response.
Investigation Continues
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been called in to investigate the law enforcement-involved shooting. As details emerge from video evidence and official reports, local communities are left grappling with the loss of a long-time city employee. The investigation remains active as authorities work to fully understand the circumstances surrounding Moses' death.
