Caymanian woman in US cop shoot out

(CNS): A local woman who now lives in Pasco country, Florida, is facing serious charges after a car chase and a shoot-out following an armed hold-up at a RadioShack in Sun City Center, according to US media reports. Bryna McLaughlin, who is originally from East End, is charged with robbery, along with Jovanny Pena, as she was in his getaway car when he allegedly walked into the store wearing a face mask armed with a gun. Pena stole 90 cell phones and cash before reportedly getting into the car with McLaughlin and refusing to stop for police who caught up with him. The car was chased along I-75 and ploughed through a roadblock, smashing police cars and running over two deputies, causing the officers to open fire.

Having rammed through the roadblock, Pena continued in his efforts to escape, heading south in the northbound lanes of I-75 and hit two other vehicles, wrecking his getaway vehicle. The police finally caught Pena and McLaughlin and took Pena, who had been shot, to hospital, where he is described as being in a stable condition.

The wild car chase closed the major US highway for hours as it became a crime scene in the wake of the shoot-out.

McLaughlin, who was unhurt, is charged with armed robbery of a business, armed kidnapping, and three counts each of armed robbery and false imprisonment.

Pena faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, armed robbery of a business, armed robbery, armed kidnapping and three charges of false imprisonment. Pena is already on felony probation until April 2017 for a 2008 grand theft case, records show. He also served time in prison in 2004 for forgery, vehicle theft and dealing in stolen property.