Florida Man Arrested for Alleged Shooting, Running Over of Girlfriend
Christopher Smith faces charges including attempted first-degree murder and child abuse after a violent incident outside a Safe Harbor bar.
A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his girlfriend and then running her over with an SUV while his child was present in the vehicle. Christopher "Dodge" Smith, 40, is accused of the violent acts that occurred Tuesday evening near a bar in Safe Harbor.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Smith arrived at the bar shortly before 9 p.m. and witnesses described him as appearing "possessed" and "hunting" for the victim, identified as Jessica Antolini, 30. An argument reportedly ensued between Smith and Antolini outside the bar, during which Smith is alleged to have shot her in the face.
Following the shooting, authorities stated that Smith ran over Antolini with his SUV and fled the scene with his 5-year-old child still in the car. Multiple 911 calls from witnesses reporting the incident and providing details about Smith's vehicle led deputies to his SUV. When deputies attempted to pull him over, Smith did not comply, and his vehicle was subsequently immobilized.
Video released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, including bodycam, dashcam, and aerial footage, appears to show a deputy using a PIT maneuver to stop Smith's SUV. He was taken into custody and faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse.
Antolini remains in critical condition at a local hospital. The child in the vehicle was unharmed and has been reunited with family. Smith is being held in the Pinellas County jail without bond on the attempted murder charge.