Updated information:
The multi-state crime spree of Blake Edward Fitzgerald and his girlfriend Brittany Nicole Harper, which consisted of multiple counts of kidnapping, armed burglary and theft, came to an end on at 12:30 a.m. on Friday in Milton during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.
While Fitzgerald, 30, was fatally injured during an exchange of gunfire with deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Harper, also age 30, was transported to a Pensacola hospital with injuries following the incident. The shooting took place near the intersection of Garcon Point Road and Saragon Lane. When asked during a Friday morning press conference in reference to reports regarding of Harper being used as “shield” by Fitzgerald during the incident, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan replied “yes.”
The Missouri couple were attempting to enter a nearby residence in the area at the time of the incident following a pursuit from law enforcement. Morgan said the couple, which are suspected for crimes in Georgia and Alabama, have no connections to the area.
Morgan said there is an uncorroborated statement stating the couple were making their way to Panama City in order to get married. However with the investigation still ongoing, Morgan could neither confirm nor deny the statement.
Sheriff Morgan reported the following timeline during the press conference.
Thursday night 7:56 p.m.
ECSO dispatch received a phone call regarding an armed robbery from Famous Footwear at the University Town Plaza on North Davis Highway in Pensacola. Witnesses told deputies a white male and female walked into the store and began shopping. The male suspect then walked up to the sales counter, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money, Morgan said. While the male was dealing with the clerk, the female suspect continues to shop for shoes and other items.
Thursday 9:44 p.m.
An ECSO deputy reported seeing the suspect’s vehicle on Pensacola Beach matching the description from witnesses at the Famous Footwear incident. Deputies pursued the vehicle as it headed toward Gulf Breeze. Morgan said the suspect vehicle then re-entered Escambia County by going over the Three Mile Bridge and east on Gregory Street and traveling northbound onto Interstate 1-10.
Thursday 9:52 p.m.
The suspect vehicle exited Interstate 1-10 onto Brent Lane and traveled east on Bayou Boulevard. Deputies would lose sight of the vehicle after it turned eastbound on 12th Avenue. Both ECSO and the Pensacola Police Department continue their search for the vehicle.
Thursday 10:16 p.m.
The suspect vehicle is spotted traveling south on Firestone Boulevard, authorities located the abandoned vehicle in a residential neighborhood along Connell Drive. With the suspects on foot, multiple law enforcement agencies including the Gulf Breeze Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission join in searching the area. Morgan said residential homes were searched and witnesses gave descriptions of the suspects to law enforcement.
Friday 12:25 a.m.
ECSO deputies were advised residents at a home on Whitney Drive were taken hostage at their home by the suspects. Deputies were advised the suspects had stolen the resident's red truck. A short amount of time later, the truck was located I-10 heading towards Santa Rosa County. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol are advised of the developments.
Friday 12:41 a.m.
The truck was spotted exiting I-10 heading south on Garcon Point Road and turned west on Saragon Lane.
Law enforcement units blocked off this entire area to set up a perimeter and an armed standoff ensued for at least 15 minutes, Morgan said.
“The suspects refused to surrender,” he said. “They then attempted to exit the vehicle and enter an occupied dwelling.”
Friday 12:52 a.m.
ECSO units report shots had been fired and Fitzgerald had been pronounced dead at the scene while Harper was wounded. Morgan said the ECSO deputies were the only law enforcement agency at the scene to exchange fire with the male suspect. No deputies or bystanders were injured in the incident. Neither Morgan or State Attorney Bill Eddins would comment whether Harper was armed or even exchanged fire in the incident, due to the ongoing investigation.
Following the Incident
During Friday’s press conference, Eddins said Harper is in the process of being charged with home invasion robbery, false imprisonment and grand theft auto. Although he could not confirm at the time, Eddins believes Harper endured injuries to her leg and ankle. When asked by reporters, Eddins said Harper was conscious while placed under the surveillance of armed guards at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Harper could also be facing additional charges in other potential crimes which took place both in Escambia and Okaloosa Counties prior to Thursday night’s incident. Eddins said his office is looking into a previous robbery which took place at Alvin’s Island in Destin and another robbery at a Piggly Wiggly location in north Escambia County.
“Those matters will remain under investigation and it will be necessary to gather additional information,” Eddins said. “We have some conflicting evidence as it relates to the Piggly Wiggly matter in North Escambia.”
Eddins refused to further comment on the conflicting evidence at this point in the investigation.
“The bond in (Harper’s) case will be so much that she will remain in jail,” Eddins said. “As a result we are going to be very particular and very methodical in investigating the other instances.”
While six ECSO deputies are currently on administrative leave at this time due to their involvement in the shooting, Morgan stressed having the deputies on leave is not indicative of guilt but only following department procedure as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts their investigation.
“I think (the deputies) responded entirely appropriate,” Morgan said standing behind the action of the deputies.
With the upcoming prosecution of Harper, Eddins told the media he intends to use information, evidence and testimonies from the suspect’s out-of-state crimes.
Unless federal agencies get involved, Eddins anticipates keeping Harper in the area for prosecution following the investigation.
According to a press release from the United States Marshals Office, the couple’s crime spree started on Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama when the couple allegedly kidnapped a hotel clerk, stole his car, drove to Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The couple allegedly released the hostage and abandoned the stolen car.
Law enforcement also believes Fitzgerald then entered a residential home while the family was present, displayed a handgun and stole the family’s Ford Edge in Vestavia Hills, forcing the wife to go with him in the stolen vehicle against her will. The woman was later released unharmed in Birmingham, Alabama.
On Monday, the couple is believed to have robbed a convenience store in Perry, Georgia, also kidnapping and later releasing a clerk from the store.
During the press conference, Morgan commented on the couple being deemed a modern day Bonnie and Clyde.
While the couple’s story could be glamorized for use in television or film, Morgan said giving the couple the ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ title could encourage future criminal acts.
“If I had my way, I would wipe their existence from all social media and everything else… we would not do any glamorization of this because they are only influencing young people,” Morgan said. “Let’s also remember Bonnie and Clyde were a couple of thugs too.”
Original article:
Residents on Garcon Point Road and Hammock Trace in Milton were disturbed by gunfire in the early morning hours of Friday morning.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the male suspect involved in the “Bonnie and Clyde” multi-state crime spree was shot and killed early Friday morning in Milton.
According to a SRSO press release, Blake Edward Fitzgerald, 30, was killed following an exchange of gunfire with officers at the intersection of Garcon Point Road and Hammock Trace in Milton. The shootout occurred at 12:30 a.m.
Fitzgerald’s accomplice, girlfriend Brittany Nicole Harper, 30, was hospitalized following the shootout.
Several reports from a variety of media sources said Fitzgerald and Harper had been the center of a manhunt in Pensacola, leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase that began in EscambiaCounty and ended with the shootout after the couple was cornered at the intersection in Milton.
Following the shootout, SRSO said in its release the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was on scene conducting their investigation.
According to the press release from the U.S. Marshals office, Fitzgerald and Harper were wanted on charges of kidnapping, burglary and theft, and are believed to have most recently committed crimes in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Reports said the string of crimes started Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, when the couple allegedly kidnapped a hotel clerk, stole his car, drove to Vestavia Hills, Alabama, released the hostage, and abandoned the stolen car. Law enforcement believes Fitzgerald then entered a residential home while the family was present, displayed a handgun and stole the family’s Ford Edge in Vestavia Hills, forcing the wife to go with him in the stolen vehicle against her will. The woman was later released unharmed in Birmingham, Alabama.
On Monday, the couple is believed to have robbed a convenience store in Perry, Georgia, also kidnapping and later releasing a clerk from the store.
Reports said the couple was responsible for two additional robberies that took place in Walnut Hill and Destin on Wednesday.
Keep informed with the Santa Rosa Press Gazette as details are released.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: UPDATE: Missouri Couple's multi-state crime spree ends in Milton shooting