Charles Kondek,17 Year Old Veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department Shot & Killed in Florida … Rest in Peace

THIRD POLICE OFFICER MURDERED OVER THE WEEKEND …

45 year old Tarpon Springs Police Department officer Charles Kondek was shot and killed early Sunday morning. Officer Kondek was a 17 year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department and previously worked for the NYPD for 5 years before he moved to Florida. A suspect has been arrested and identified as 23 year old Marco Antonio Parilla Jr. The cop-killer was charged with first degree murder.

A police officer in Tarpon Springs, Florida, was shot and killed early Sunday, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

A suspect is in custody.

The fatal shooting occurred in a residential area in the predawn hours, said Cecilia Barreda from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The slain officer, Charles Kondek, was a 17-year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

Kondek, 45, was a New York City police officer for five years before moving to Florida, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23.

Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek, Rest in Peace

Officer Charles Kondek, former NYPD, fatally shot in Florida.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Kondek Family and offer our deepest sympathy to them. May Charlie rest in peace and We Will Never Forget him,” the Tarpon Springs Police Department posted on Facebook.

The shooting came hours after Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, allegedly shot and killed New York Police officers Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, before taking his own life Saturday afternoon. Investigators say that just three hours before his rampage, Brinsley posted on Instagram anti-police rhetoric and threatened vengeance for the police-involved death of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

The Tarpon Springs Police Department issued the following statement about the shooting:

With grieving hearts, the Tarpon Springs Police Department is saddened to announce the loss of Officer Charles Kondek. Ofc. Kondek served the City of Tarpon Springs as a sworn law enforcement officer for over 17 years, many of which were on the midnight shift. Originally from New York, he had previously served for over 5 years as a NYPD officer before moving to Florida.

Ofc. Kondek, who was 45 years of age, responded to a call for service shortly after 2:00 am on Dec. 21, 2014. While at the incident location, at 199 Grand Blvd., Ofc. Kondek was killed in the line of duty. TSPD officers and members of the Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue, who were summoned to assist, attended to Ofc. Kondek on-scene. He was transported to Florida Hospital North Pinellas, where he succumbed to his injuries.