Wesley Chapel, Fla. – On Thursday morning, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco briefed the press on a violent encounter at the Enclave apartment complex that could have been far worse. Three bail bondsmen arrived around 12:58 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant for Henry Josena, who had failed to appear in court on lewd and lascivious charges filed in Hillsborough County.
When one bondsman entered the back of the apartment, Josena opened fire, severely wounding the bondsman. A second bondsman helped the injured man escape while calling 911. The third bondsman remained inside the unit, unaware of the danger.
Deputies respond with protective equipment
Pasco County deputies arrived shortly after the shooting began and entered the building equipped with ballistic shields. “As they move into position, they start calling out for the suspect to come out,” Nocco said. “They didn’t realize that the brother was in there. The first person comes out. They think it is the suspect, but it’s not the suspect. They get him in handcuffs and realize very quickly that it is not the suspect. They start moving down the hallway and as they start moving down the hallway they take several rounds. Thank God almighty that shield was there. They had the equipment. Those rounds, unfortunately, projected off of it. Two of them were hurt. Very minor injuries, thank God almighty because of that shield.”
The sheriff credited the shield with preventing potentially fatal injuries to the deputies. Two officers sustained minor injuries from the ricocheting rounds, while the severely injured bondsman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Suspect’s death and evidence recovered
After deploying pepperball gas and sending a drone into the apartment, deputies located Josena on the floor. He had died from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. Officers also recovered shotguns, rifles and handguns inside the unit.
“From the deputies, it looked like the suspect was ready for something to happen, and it could have been way, way worse,” Nocco said. He added that none of the deputies fired their weapons during the response.
Sheriff’s remarks on accountability and faith
“We are so thankful the angels were protecting them,” Nocco said, invoking his gratitude for what he described as divine protection. “They easily could have died out there tonight. Thank God almighty the deputies will be going home. The bondsmen, two will be going right home. One is in the hospital right now. He is in critical condition. Still praying for him, but it could have been way worse. Their heroism was unbelievable.”
The sheriff also emphasized personal responsibility, stating, “The suspect made his decision in life. He chose to take his own life. None of our deputies fired any rounds in this situation. It was a decision he made. But, he also made a decision to commit a crime. He also made a decision not to appear in court and he made the decision that he wasn’t going to obey the law and because of that, there are consequences for his actions.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not released body‑worn camera footage, and the exact number of rounds fired has not been disclosed.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
