TAMPA — A woman was killed and a man is in critical condition after a home invasion involving masked men, police say.
The incident was discovered shortly 5 a.m., according to police, who responded to a call about gunshots in the 8200 block of N. Brooks Street. When they arrived, police said, they found a man lying on the sidewalk in front of 8212 N. Brooks St. with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Police later learned there was another shooting victim inside a house at 8214 N. Brooks St.
Police said the shooting happened after two masked gunmen entered the home through an unlocked door. They ordered a woman who had her 4-year-old child with her in the living room to get down on the floor.
A man heard the noise, came out of the bedroom and tried to fight off the intruders, according to police. During the incident, someone inside the home let a dog loose, which attacked one of the intruders.
Shots were fired inside the house and a man and woman were hit. They were taken to Tampa General Hospital, where the woman died from her injuries. The man is in critical condition.
Their names and roles in the crime have not yet been released by police.
It was not known if the woman who died was the mother of the 4-year-old.
