Hank Carr

http://tampabayonline.net/reports/shooting/home.htm

You should then read the following interview done with Carr while he was holed up in a gas station awaiting 'arrest.'

Hank Carr: I turned around to put it up, and I guess the butt hit the side of the wall and it went off. It discharged a round right through my son's face. I didn't know what to do. I was scared, I panicked, I flipped out. I knew he was still alive. I tried to get him medical attention. We threw him in the car, we took him up, I seen a cop on the side of the road. I stopped him, he was acting like, he was just moving too slow for the emergency situation. I told him, "Look, I can't wait, my son's been shot, I got to go." He hollered out, "Go to the fire department down the street." I pulled into the fire department down the street. All this was an accident. Well, when I pulled him out of the car and gave him to the paramedics, I felt his pulse again. It was gone. I knew at that time my son was dead. We had left our little girl there with the neighbours, because my wife, Bernice, didn't want Kayla in the car with Joey, with him bleeding, because it would have freaked her out. So, I took off in the car again, I wasn't under arrest. So, I left and went back to get my daughter and to get the rifle for the cops, to show them. Well, while I was there, the cops showed up, and one of the cops grabbed his gun and said, "Don't move." So, I didn't move. They were sitting there talking to me. I said, "Am I under arrest?" They said, "No." I wanted to go be with my wife and see if my daughter was all right. So, I took off to be with my wife. I hurt my leg, the cops surrounded me, they threw me in the back of the car, they took me downtown, they asked me a bunch of questions, they called me a liar. I tried to tell them it was an accident. They took me back to the scene, which was bad enough. My son's blood was all over the floor and the walls. And I tried to explain to them exactly what happened, they started calling me a liar, and this and that, and I was going to jail and prison, and blah blah blah. They put me back in the cop car, and I asked them, you know, "Am I going to prison?" They said, "Yes." I got one of the handcuffs off. I reached up front and got the pistol away from the officer that was driving. The other one jumped in the back seat trying to get it away. I shot them both. I got in the truck that was parked behind me and made the guy get out. I opened up the back of the cop car and grabbed my rifle that they had took. Then I took off up north. I was heading north when the cops started chasing me. They were shooting at me, every underpass I went under they would shoot at the truck. They were shooting at me. They blowed my tires out. Ninety mile an hour, I almost wrecked twice. I finally got the car on the road. They were shooting at me, they shot me through the truck. I was hit in the ass, it's a big hole, I think it's a 45, I'm bleeding bad. They've surrounded this place, now. I fell off into this gas station, running for my fucking life, and here I am. And, that's my story. What happened to my son was an accident. It was a terrible accident, and I don't even think I deserve to live. It's unlikely that I'll come out of this alive. I can't see giving myself up to fry in the electric chair. I know I'll fry for the cops.

Don Richards: Who's in the Shell Station with you?

Carr: Um, the lady that works here. No harm will come to her, she's been very nice, very cooperative. If anything, I'll shoot myself. But my wife is supposed to be on the way. They're going to let me talk to her, hopefully she can talk me into making the right decision. Basically, I want to tell her that I'm sorry, and that it was an accident. She was there, she knows it was an accident. And I'm waiting on them.

Richards: Joseph, could you let that lady out?

Carr: Not at this time. Not until I hear from my wife. Which may be time to call now, I don't know what's going on.

Richards: Joseph, what is preventing you from putting down that weapon and just walking out?

Carr: I don't have the weapon, the weapon is laying right here beside me. I haven't had the weapon in my hand for over 15, 20 minutes, now. I'm not in no way threatening this lady. She's visibly upset, but she knows she's going to live. She will live.

Richards: Why don't you just open that door and walk out very slowly?

Carr: Well, there's snipe shooters ... and they're all laying under their cars and all. The police have surrounded ... there's cops everywhere. I'm not going out there. They done shot at me all day. They've been shooting at me for the last 30 miles, you know?

Richards: But if you are not a threat to them, then you should be able to get out OK. Isn't that sort of logical?

Carr: Well, I'm already shot. Logically, I don't want to fry in the electric chair. I don't want to go to prison. I don't want to have to eat the food. I don't want to have to live with people. I just ... I don't want to go to prison. I don't want to go.

Richards: The best advice I can give you would be to let that lady, who has nothing to do with any of this, out of that store. And, you know, and to follow her yourself.

Carr: Do me a favour. My real name isn't Joseph Lee Bennett.

Richards: What is it?

Carr: Hank Earl Carr.

Richards: Hank Carr?

Carr: Yep.

Richards: How do you spell that?

Carr: C-A-R-R. H-A-N-K.

Richards: Can we call your wife, Hank?

Carr: I'm trying to get them to get a hold of her, so I can talk to her now. That's why I'm fixin' to get off the phone, in case she calls. In case they're bringing her in to try to talk me out of this. She's the only one that can. I know you're trying, I appreciate that.

Richards: That lady has nothing to do with any of this, and, you know, she's treated you well.

Carr: She's only served her purpose. She's just keeping me alive long to where I can see my wife.

Richards: Well, again, let her out and ...

Carr: I just wanted to tell my story. My son was an accident. We don't keep loaded guns around the kids. That gun was supposed to be empty. I don't understand what happened.

Richards: A lot of people are going to be asking a lot of questions for a long time about this particular day in the history of Tampa Bay. Hank, let that lady out and then follow her with your hands up. What's your wife's name, Hank?

Carr: Bernice Marie Bowen

Richards: Bernice. Let that lady out and then follow her with your hands up and the situation probably can come to a ...

Carr: Right after I talk to Bernice, I'll probably give her the guns and let her go out and then I'll just lay on the floor here and they can come and get me. But for right now, I want to talk to my wife before I do anything.

Richards: This situation could end peacefully, Hank. Please. Please. OK?

Carr: Ya'll got the story?

Richards: I think we do.

Carr: Thanks, buddy.

Richards: OK.

Carr: Bye.

Not long after, Carr let the hostage go. He then put the gun to his head and, well you can guess the rest. At least that's what the police say. Personally I don't think it was Carr that pulled the trigger.