The family of the man who is accused of killing two Tampa police officers are begging for Dontae Morris to turn himself in, MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.
“We, the family of Dontae Morris send our condolences out to the family of both the slain officers, especially to the mother that is pregnant,” said John Anderson, the family’s pastor. “We wish her the very best of health.”
The family stood behind Anderson as he continued his statement.
“We stand together as a family in asking that Dontae be allowed to turn himself in safely and no harm will come to him,” said Anderson.
Morris has been on the loose since Officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis were shot and killed after they stopped a car Morris was in at 2:15 a.m. ET Tuesday, MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.
Cortnee Brantley, a suspected person of interest who was taken into custody for questioning late Tuesday morning has been released, Police Chief Jane Castor confirmed to MyFoxTampa.
Brantley, who was reportedly driving the vehicle that Morris was in when it was pulled over by police, didn’t have a visible license plate on her car.
“We were able to get some information from her,” Castor said late Tuesday, according to MyFoxTampaBay. “I don’t know that I would define her as cooperative.”
Morris is believed to have been the passenger in Brantley’s car who, when the officers went to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, pulled the trigger.
Detectives have issued a warrant for Morris’ arrest on two counts of first degree murder and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Tampa police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have been searching nonstop for Morris, 24, in and around the area of the shooting, as well as wherever they have gotten tips as to where Morris might be or have been.
Castor said Tuesday night that based on information police have received, they believe Morris is still in the Tampa area.
A reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for killing Officers Kocab and Curtis continues to grow, and currently stands at $95,000.
Tampa Police Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab
