Polk kidnapper: ‘I have enough ammunition to kill her and myself’

A kidnapping that started in Lakeland ended when the suspect shot at police before killing himself on Interstate 95 in Brevard County.

Lakeland police say 28-year-old Brett Lee Curtis allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Elizabeth Rae Hamilton, from her job at the Lakeland Square Mall around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Hamilton’s mother, Robin Hamilton, contacted police who issued a statewide alert to law enforcement for Curtis and his vehicle, a white Nissan Altima, said Lakeland Police Department Sgt. Richard T. Rose, Jr. in a statement.

At 3:03 a.m. Tuesday, a South Daytona Police officer attempted to pull Curtis over, but he didn’t stop — forcing police and deputies to chase his vehicle southbound on I-95 — said Volusia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gary Davidson.

In a chilling 911 call, Curtis warns authorities to back off, and Hamilton pleads for help.

“He says he gonna kill me if they keep following him,” Hamilton cries to a dispatcher. “He’s got a gun, he’s got a 9 mm...he’s got a rifle.”

Then Curtis cuts in: “You’re risking this woman’s life...You’ve got three officers ganging up on me right now and I have enough ammunition to kill her and myself.”

During the chase Curtis allegedly shot at police, but no officers were injured, Rose said.

The chase started in Volusia County, but ended in Brevard County when deputies used stop sticks to disable the car, according to Mike Scully, Brevard County Sheriff ’s Office spokesman.

The stop sticks destroyed the car’s tires, forcing Curtis to come to a stop on I-95 in Mims, giving Hamilton the chance to escape the vehicle. She was not injured, Scully said.

Officials say Curtis turned the gun on himself and took his own life around 3:56 a.m.

The incident is an open and ongoing investigation, Scully said.