Witness describes crime spree that ended in carjacking suspect’s death

EAST NAPLES, Fla. – WINK News is learning new details about a deadly deputy-involved shooting Wednesday on Tamiami Trial.

Michael Davis says he witnessed the dramatic scene as 46-year-old Michelle Esch lead deputies on a chase and was ultimately killed.

“She had her purse over her shoulder, and it was kinda right here, and so she was slipping her hand right into the purse and pulling the pistol out, bam! Right there,'” said Davis.

Davis says he couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he headed to work at a construction site nearby.

“I was in the median trying to U-turn and off to my left, I noticed a semi-truck starting to take off and a gentleman screaming at the truck.”

The semi-truck was in the parking lot of Sunshine Ace Hardware. Deputies say Esch had gotten behind the wheel while the driver called 911, fearing for his life.

“Next thing you hear is a pop,” said Davis. “As I’m entering the driveway, she’s all trying to flag me down to get me to stop and I’m like, ‘are you serious? I’m pretty sure I heard a gunshot, I’m not stopping.'”

Davis said that’s when Esch tried to steal a woman’s car.

“She pulled the gun on the lady right here, tried to take her car, but that lady’s like ‘nope, not happening,’ pushes her away as I’m walking up or trying to get there.”

Esch then made her way to a nearby Perkins parking lot where she succeeded in stealing another couple’s car.

Davis also called 911 and directed deputies as to where Esch was headed. After a short chase, the crime spree ended at Treviso Bay where Esch pulled a gun on deputies and they shot and killed her.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all if she was aggressive towards cops. Her m.o. was to get away for sure, whatever it took,” said Davis.

Two deputies involved in the shooting are now on administrative leave while an internal investigation is underway.

Witnesses say Esch appeared to be either drunk or high. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is waiting on toxicology reports to determine that.