Three would-be robbers allegedly pulled guns on the wrong men early this morning inside the Hyatt Place Hotel in Brentwood. Of the men – undercover officer Justin Fox who was working another case – pulled a gun and opened fire on the suspects.
Police said the suspects had forced the hotel clerk to give them cash at gunpoint when Officer Fox and an undercover officer from another agency, entered the hotel lobby at 2:30 a.m.
The suspects allegedly ordered Fox and another undercover officer from another agency to the floor at gunpoint, striking and kicking both men while threatening to kill them, police said.
Before Fox went completely to the ground he pulled out his department issued handgun, turned around, and fired on all three suspects in defense of himself and the other officer who did not fire a weapon, police said.
The three suspects, identified as Deaunte Carter, 23, Rory Gilmer, 22, and Antonio Leggs, 20, fled in a maroon minivan. Officers stopped the vehicle in Interstate 65 North near Wedgewood Avenue.
All three suspects were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where Carter and Gilmer are in critical condition. Leggs is in stable condition.
Police said the three are suspects in an earlier robbery in the parking lot of Homewood Suites on Church Streeet. Two purses and a wallet allegedly stolen from those victims were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle.
All three suspects, who face multiple attempted aggravated robbery charges, have criminal histories.
Carter, of Bell Road, was convicted of facilitation of aggravated robbery in 2008. He was sentenced to eight years. Leggs, of Clifton Avenue, has two previous theft convictions. Gilmer, of Bellshire Terrace Court, has been arrested eleven times, mostly for driving offenses and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Officer Fox, 35, a 12-year police veteran, is on routine administrative assignment.