Cop Shot Man In Dispute Over An Ex

A policeman in Punta Gorda shot his common law's ex partner on Thursday night. He claims that Richard Valerio Was harassing him and his partner at a basketball game.

PC Feliz Fernandez claims that they eventually decided to leave the basketball game and asked an officer to escort them, but upon leaving he says he caught Valerio damaging his car.

He claims Valerio then threw a rock at them, which prompted Fernandez to pull his licensed 9mm pistol and fire a single shot at Valerio injuring him in his lower back. He was rushed to the Punta Gorda Hospital for medical treatment. The commissioner of police has since ordered an internal investigation into the matter.