Two Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies are in surgery after they were intentionally targeted by a man with a violent criminal history, Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a news conference Thursday.

"Today the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was intentionally attacked and targeted and ambushed by a man determined to kill deputy sheriffs," Chronister said.

Chronister explains it all started after deputies responded to a 911 call from 28-year-old Ralph Bouzy's mother. She said her son, who lives with her, was acting "irrational and violent," and she was in fear for her life.

The first two deputies arrived around 7:45 a.m. in the Heather Lakes subdivision cul-de-sac in the area of Flaxwood and Blufield avenues. Chronister said the two deputies parked by the neighbor's house and approached Bouzy, who was sitting in the driver's seat of his car.

Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Chronister said Bouzy refused to speak with deputies, put the car in reverse and drove away. It could've ended there, but it didn't.

"When I talk about being deliberate and intentional, he chose to return to the scene," Chronister said.

FULL STORY: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/hillsborough-county-deputies-hit-by-car-seriously-injured/67-32e8a603-005d-4b54-ac56-9c0ef9d0e64f

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