2 dead, 11injured in a crime spree starting from a neighbourhood; where drugs and prostitution was common

On Friday, Pinellas County police took Anthony Giancola into custody; the 45-year-old middle school principal allegedly stabbed nearly one dozen people; 2 of them, a woman and a male died later. The others were being treated at various local area hospitals, said police.

Over a drug arrest, an ex-Tampa Bay-area resident Anthony had lost his job as a middle school principal five years ago at Van Buren Middle School in Tampa. According to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Anthony went on a rampage Friday during which, he stabbed several people. The incident occurred before 11 a.m. in the small Lealman city in Pinellas County, an area that is some 20 miles in the Tampa west.

The crime spree started at a halfway house where Anthony had gone for the hearing impaired; first four victims were stabbed there. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said that earlier in the day, Giancola had told his mother that today; he was “going to kill the drug dealers, all of them.” After stabbing four people, Anthony allegedly drove the vehicle he was riding, into a crowded porch. The crash left at least three women and one male victim seriously injured; women were required hospitalization.

Prior to that, he also attacked two others while at a motel, authorities said. Authorities further informed that there were 11 victims in all, several of which were sent to various area hospitals for the treatment of injuries they sustained; ranging from minor to life-threatening. Victims attacked in the Pinellas Park’s Kenvins Motel, were identified as Kanu and Indiranden Patel; husband was reported to be in pretty serious condition.

The attacker was eventually arrested after being tracked by a police dog while near a storage facility.