Pasco Sheriff's Office Releases Identity of Standoff Suspect

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the man involved in a standoff just south of New Port Richey Saturday.

The standoff between Christos Marangos and Pasco County Sheriff's deputies ended at 7:15 p.m. Saturday when members of the Sheriff's SWAT team entered a home to find the 30 year-old suspect dead.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco says the incident started just after 6 p.m. when deputies went to a home at 5702 Columbia Drive to question Marangos about some crimes Friday evening.

Marangos opened fire on the deputies, and the deputies shot back.

"Earlier this morning, we believe this suspect was involved in numerous shootings in the community and burglaries, and it seems like he did not want to turn himself in," said Nocco.

The Pasco Sheriff's SWAT Team was called right after the gunfire exchange. About an hour later, at 7:15 p.m., the SWAT Team entered the home to find Marangos dead of at least one gunshot wound. 

No deputies were injured.

"Our deputies were fired upon. This guy made a bad mistake to shoot at our deputies," said Nocco.

The sheriff's office evacuated the neighborhood shortly after the first shots were fired.

Mike Ward lives near Marangos and arrived home after the deputy cruisers arrived. Ward was surprised to find the suspect was accused of shooting at police.

"That's going overboard," he said. "My neighborhood has been going downhill."

During the standoff, deputies blocked the Grand Boulevard entrance to the nearby Trouble Creek Square Shopping Center and used it as a staging area. Residents who live across the street from the staging area gathered at the intersection of Croton Street and Trouble Creek Road to watch the drama unfold.

Lisa Wagner lives on Croton St. and was outside her home having a cigarette when she saw the sheriff's vans arrive and she realized something was going on.

She speaks highly of the neighborhood, "It's good, it's quiet, it's friendly," she said. However, she thinks crime has gone up in her town because of the bad economy.

"There's no jobs. Next option's crime."

Skip MacDonald, 66, lives at Twin Lakes Village Condos, a couple blocks away from Trouble Creek Square. He was at the Up The Creek Pub when all the deputies showed up, "I came out.... I had no clue."

MacDonald has lived in the area since 1988. "This normally does not happen," he said.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is investigating Marangos' death. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is investigating the deputy-involved shooting. The three deputies have been placed on administrative leave, which is a standard procedure.

The sheriff's office says Marangos' last known address was 4006 Village Drive in Tampa.