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CNN) -- Authorities were conducting door-to-door searches in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, looking for two suspects involved in an early-morning shooting that left two police officers dead.
Officer Jeffrey Kocab, 31, died after the incident about 2:15 a.m. ET near downtown Tampa, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. The second officer, David Curtis, 31, died later, authorities said.
Curtis had pulled over a vehicle and found its male passenger had an outstanding warrant for "minor violations," Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor told reporters. Kocab responded to back Curtis up, and "as they put their hands on the suspect, the suspect spun around, pulled a firearm and shot both police officers," she said.
Both Curtis and Kocab were shot in the upper body, Castor said. Asked whether body armor would have helped them avoid injury, she said no. The officers were shot at close range, she said. A witness called 9-1-1 to report the shooting.
Police K-9s had tracked the suspect to a location, she said, and door-to-door searches were under way.
"We haven't positively Identified a suspect, but we have a very good suspect in this situation, and there's probably a great deal more to it than just that misdemeanor warrant," Castor said.
Kocab leaves behind a wife who is nine months pregnant. Castor said he was "looking forward to being a father."
Curtis had four sons, ages 9, 8, 5 and 8 months, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said.
"This is an unbelievable tragedy for these families, and for the larger family of TPD, and for the larger family of the city of Tampa," she said. "Our hearts are just breaking."
Kocab had been with Tampa police for 14 months, McElroy said. Castor said he previously was with the Plant City, Florida, police. Curtis had been with the department for three years and eight months, according to McElroy.
Castor described both officers as "solid police officers and outstanding individuals" who both worked the midnight shift.
Police were searching for a red 1994 Toyota Camry connected to the shooting and an African-American male and female, McElroy said. The male was described as being in his mid- to late 20s and weighing about 150 to 170 pounds. He is thought to be wearing brown shorts and a white T-shirt, McElroy said. No description was available for the woman.
Officer Jeffrey Kocab, 31, died after the incident about 2:15 a.m. ET near downtown Tampa, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. The second officer, David Curtis, 31, died later, authorities said.
Curtis had pulled over a vehicle and found its male passenger had an outstanding warrant for "minor violations," Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor told reporters. Kocab responded to back Curtis up, and "as they put their hands on the suspect, the suspect spun around, pulled a firearm and shot both police officers," she said.
Both Curtis and Kocab were shot in the upper body, Castor said. Asked whether body armor would have helped them avoid injury, she said no. The officers were shot at close range, she said. A witness called 9-1-1 to report the shooting.
Police K-9s had tracked the suspect to a location, she said, and door-to-door searches were under way.
"We haven't positively Identified a suspect, but we have a very good suspect in this situation, and there's probably a great deal more to it than just that misdemeanor warrant," Castor said.
Kocab leaves behind a wife who is nine months pregnant. Castor said he was "looking forward to being a father."
Curtis had four sons, ages 9, 8, 5 and 8 months, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said.
"This is an unbelievable tragedy for these families, and for the larger family of TPD, and for the larger family of the city of Tampa," she said. "Our hearts are just breaking."
Kocab had been with Tampa police for 14 months, McElroy said. Castor said he previously was with the Plant City, Florida, police. Curtis had been with the department for three years and eight months, according to McElroy.
Castor described both officers as "solid police officers and outstanding individuals" who both worked the midnight shift.
Police were searching for a red 1994 Toyota Camry connected to the shooting and an African-American male and female, McElroy said. The male was described as being in his mid- to late 20s and weighing about 150 to 170 pounds. He is thought to be wearing brown shorts and a white T-shirt, McElroy said. No description was available for the woman.
