Christopher "Dodge" Smith, 40, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse after Pinellas County deputies say he shot his girlfriend and then ran her over with his SUV while their 5-year-old child was in the vehicle. The incident occurred in Safe Harbor, Florida, following an argument near a bar.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Jessica Antolini, 30. According to a criminal complaint, Smith arrived at the bar on Tuesday just before 9 p.m. Witnesses described him as appearing to hunt for Antolini and looking possessed. Once he located her, the two argued outside the establishment, where Smith allegedly shot Antolini in the face.
After the shooting, Smith drove his SUV over Antolini and fled the scene. He left Antolini behind while his young child remained in the car. The criminal complaint notes that detectives received multiple 911 calls from witnesses who reported the shooting and provided details about Smith's vehicle. Deputies responded to the scene and later located Smith's SUV.
When deputies attempted to pull Smith over, he did not comply. Bodycam, dashcam, and aerial video released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office show a deputy vehicle performing a PIT maneuver to immobilize Smith's SUV. Smith was subsequently arrested.
Antolini remains in the hospital in critical condition. The child in the vehicle was not injured during the incident and has been reunited with family. Smith is currently held in a Pinellas County jail cell without bond due to the attempted first-degree murder charge.