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‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Suspect Killed, Ending Multi-State Crime Spree
February 5, 2016
A Missouri couple dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde went down in a barrage of gunfire early Friday morning in Santa Rosa County. Blake Fitzgerald was pronounced deceased at the scene; Brittany Nicole Harper was reportedly shot in the legs and was transported by LifeGuard EMS to an area hospital, according to federal authorities.
Both were suspects in the armed robbery of the Piggly Wiggly in Davisville Wednesday afternoon, along with a string of armed robberies and kidnappings in multiple states, according to U.S. Marshals.
The couple fled to Santa Rosa County after a massive manhunt Thursday night in Escambia County in the Cordova Park area between Bayou and Summit boulevards, not far from the Pensacola International Airport. Local, state and federal authorities spent nearly two hours searching the neighborhood for the duo, telling residents to stay inside and lock their doors and windows.
Just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, Fitzgerald and Harper, both 30, somehow managed to escape the manhunt area and flee in a vehicle to I-10 and cross Escambia Bay into Santa Rosa County with police giving chase. The chase ended after they turned down Saragon Lane off Garcon Point Road outside Milton. They were left with no where to run and were in a standoff with law enforcement by about 12:45 a.m.
At about 12:53 a.m. a hail of gunfire could be heard from Saragon Lane before both suspects were reported to be down. There were no injuries to law enforcement personnel. An ambulance was called to the scene, and left under a law enforcement escort. A short time later, U.S. Marshals confirmed that Fitzgerald died at the scene while Harper was wounded.
Thursday night’s events started to unfold shortly before 7:30 when the Famous Footwear shoe store on Davis Highway just south of I-10 was reportedly robbed at gunpoint, with the suspects described only as a male and a female. There was no confirmation that Fitzgerald and Harper were responsible for the robbery. A high speed chase from Pensacola Beach to Gulf Breeze, I-10 and the streets of Pensacola followed a short time later, with the chase ending with the massive manhunt off Bayou Boulevard near the Pensacola airport.
The story of Fitzgerald and Harper began back on January 22 in Missouri where they allegedly broke into several homes and stole at least two vehicles.
By Sunday morning, they allegedly kidnapped a hotel clerk in Tuscaloosa, stole his car, drove to Vestavia Hills, AL, released the hostage, and abandoned the stolen car. Law enforcement believes Fitzgerald then entered a residence 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 by the couple outside of an emergency room.
The hotel clerk in Tuscaloosa told authorities that the couple said they were headed to Florida, possibly Panama City, to get married, according to published reports.
On Monday, the couple is believed to have robbed a convenience store in Perry, GA, also kidnapping and later releasing a clerk from the store. They were last seen on Monday southbound on I-75 in a stolen silver 2010 Ford Edge.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Fitzgerald was their suspect in Wednesday’s armed robbery of the Alvin Island’s store in Destin. The business at 1000 U.S. Highway 98 was robbed at gunpoint shortly after noon. The man was accompanied by a white female who left the store just prior to the holdup.
U.S. Marshals confirmed that Fitzgerald and Harper were suspects in Wednesday’s armed robbery of the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville. Employees said a white male walked into the store about 4:40 p.m., pulled back his shirt to show a gun and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was described as a white male with a thin build and a shaved haircut. He was wearing a black American Eagle sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black hat.
He reportedly fled in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck with a busted-out window driven by a white female in a hoodie. They were chased briefly by a store employee north on Highway 97 across the state line into Atmore. There were no injuries reported.
Piggly Wiggly employees identified Fitzgerald from photographs. The FBI confirmed the duo cross the state line five minutes after the time of the robbery.
U.S. Marshals had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for the couple’s capture.
Pictured top and below: The scene early Friday morning on Garcon Point Road at Saragon Lane, a short distance from where gunfire erupted, killing on member of a couple dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by federal authorities. Pictured inset above and bottom: The couple were named suspects in the Wednesday robbery of the Davisville Piggly Wiggly by U.S. Marshals. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Price and William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Suspect Killed, Ending Multi-State Crime Spree”
First off, Way to go to all Law enforcement involved. Its great to have law enforcement in our local areas that are willing to communicate and join forces with other agencies to accomplish the ultimate goal in the communities, safety.
Second off, giving these idiots a label only made them famous. Not to mention the fact that if it had been a ” Bonnie and Clyde” the crime spree would have been a lot worse. The real Bonnie and Clyde robbed banks and killed whom ever stepped in the way til they were finally killed. The only reason these freaking idiots are being called the modern day Bonnie and Clyde is because it was a male and female committing robbery across three states. Thank god no one was really injured . But it’s a damn shame that these ppl are given labels of fame for crimes that being committed in the local area everyday….you only hear about the ones that can spark your interest. It’s sad.
Rant over.
Thank you for your coverage of this story. Since the tease on your Facebook page I was alert, aware and watching. I noted you were factual ESCO had not confirmed yet I trusted it was in fact the couple and was careful and cautious because of your report. I was surprised that the Pensacola and ESCO did not put out a BOLO. I supposed they thought it best to leave it to the LEO and not have public interfere We appreciate NE.com!
Oh what a tangled web we weave…….the devil is mighty…seeking to destroy and to devour…he is the prince of this world…a master of deceit …..a liar….its a terrible world we live in folks….keep your eyes looking up….
I wonder if they were actively engaged in a felony at the time of “Clyde’s” demise? Surely they were. That being the case, I also wonder if she will be tried for felony murder. I believe Florida still has that on the books.
Glad these Thugs are off the street! !
People don’t understand you can’t play with the panhandle law enforcement they don joke here because crime isn’t a game good job to my local law enforcement Santa Rosa county for keeping my family and streets safe because of your good work my friends and family are safe.
@Zandra, sounds like you should be contacting law enforcement with the insider information you have, telling criminals they shouldn’t come to Pensacola. Maybe if you would have reported them, they might have been caught before arriving in our region.
@Zandra: Perhaps if you have a line of communication with “these criminal” you could enlighten the police as to their location.
Much better coverage by North Escambia than Pensacola News Journal.Way to go.
The sirens as this thing went across the I-10 bridge woke me up.
In the end, geography screwed these two up. They didn’t know the area well enough to realize that once they turned south on Avalon there was only one other way to get out.. and that was Garcon point Road. Because you know that Santa Rosa Deputies would have been coming up the Garcon Point Bridge.
They rolled right into a swampy box with only three exits far enough apart that officers would have them roadblocked in before they got halfway to either of the others.
This whole thing played out like a two-episode story on “Criminal Minds.”
I keep telling these criminal don’t come to Pensacola if you don’t want to be caught. Good job to the Escambia and Santa Rosa sheriff’s department. Now, could you go find some of these locate murder’s and theives. They are going to learn.
It wasn’t a surprise that they went down in what they thought was a blaze of glory. It could have been so much worse; innocent people could have been killed. Not sure what motivated them to do as they did…in my opinion, I have to believe it was drugs. Once again, I think of their parents. Harper will have a long time behind bars, to think about her Clyde and their crime spree.
Prayers for the officers who had to use deadly force.
You get what you ask for! I am glad no one else was injured and kudos for law enforcement!!!
Actions have consequences
David for better people
Thank the Lord that no innocent people were physically injured.
I am sure that the emotional duress was bad enough, for those who were abducted and robbed.