By Jake Donovan
A day that began with St. Petersburg police prepared to serve an arrest warrant has now ended with three people dead, including shooting suspect Hydra Lacy Jr.
CNN confirmed his death on Monday afternoon, ending an hours-long standoff between the career criminal and St. Petersburg law enforcement officers.
Officers first arrived at Lacy’s home early Monday morning to arrest him on an aggravated battery charge last year. The warrant was first issued on November 2, 2010 – one day after the suspect failed to show in court for his trial.
According to local reports, police on scene – an officer, a US Marshal, and a county deputy - were informed by a woman that the suspect in question was hiding in the attic.
The officers called for backup, but immediately found themselves under siege as Lacy reportedly opened fire. The officer and marshal were hit, with the officer fatally wounded before being pronounced dead two hours later.
Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Figmik was shot twice, but is reportedly in stable condition.
The second officer who was shot and killed was part of the backup team that arrived in efforts to rescue the wounded law enforcement agents.
Lacy, 39, remained in the house for nearly six hours, while local officials surrounded the premises. The suspect was without power and water during the entire time.
At one point, his whereabouts were listed as unknown after an initial search – including a police robot – came up empty.
Police continued to search the house until finally finding Lacy dead in his attic early Monday afternoon. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
The ordeal ends a sad tale of a life spent on the wrong side of the law. Lacy has a lengthy rap sheet, and at least two tours in prison. His first taste of lockup came at just 17 years of age, when he was convicted in 1989 of armed robbery and resisting arrest.
Lacy was released in 1991, but found himself in serious trouble just one year later. The Floridian was charged with two counts each of sexual batter and false imprisonment of a minor, earning a sentence of 10 years, which included time already served.
Upon his release in 2001, Lacy was forced to register as a sex offender. Adding to his list of charges was his failure to register with the Pinellas County Sherrif’s Department after changing addresses last December.
Lacy is survived by his father and eight siblings. Included among them is younger brother Jeff Lacy, who became the first member from the 2000 U.S. Olympic boxing squad to win a major title after his eighth round knockout of Syd Vanderpool in their October 2004 vacant title fight.
Lacy’s father, Hydra Sr. was a heavyweight journeyman during the 1970’s.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .
