Page 42 - Florida Sentinel 6-25-21

Crime
Accused Gunman Kills Woman;
Man Injured By Gunfire Remains Hospitalized
Injures 9 Others
Tampa Police officers were dispatched to an area in East Tampa in reference to shots being fired. The calls were re- ceived early last Thursday morning.
When officers arrived at N. 50th Street near intersection I- 4, they observed blood on the ground. The officers followed the blood trail in the 3200 block of N. 50th Street, and lo- cated a man suffering from an apparent gunshot to the top of his head.
The unidentified victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was admit- ted in stable condition. He re- mains hospitalized.
Detectives said it is early
Man’s Body Found After Car Crashes Into River
Police pulled the light-col- ored sedan from the Hills- borough River Sunday afternoon. They discovered the body of a man inside the vehicle.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is currently investigating a fatal traffic accident. The of- ficers were dispatched to the area after callers reported see- ing a car in the Hillsborough River.
Officers responded to the area of W. Columbus Drive and N. Riverside Drive shortly after 4:30 p.m., Sunday. When they arrived at the scene, they ob- served a light-colored sedan in the water.
Police believe the vehicle was involved in a single-car ac- cident, crashed and overturned into Hillsborough River.
When officers reached the car, they discovered an adult man dead inside the vehicle. There were no other occupants in the car.
The identity of the man has not been released and the in- vestigation is continuing.
CORNECIA SMIKLE
Sumter County police ar- rested a Tampa man on Sun- day. He has been linked to a shooting that left a woman dead and 9 others injured.
According to police, there was an annual, non-sanc- tioned event taking place on Father’s Day. Police have re- leased limited details on the shooting, but said 22-year- old Rapheal Tyree Thomas, and 25-year-old Cornecia Smikle, both of Tampa, encountered each other at the event.
At some point, shots rang out and ten people were in- jured by gunfire. Ms. Cornecia Smikle died as a result of her injuries. An- other person was critically injured. The injuries of the other eight victims ranged from being treated and re- leased to being in stable con- dition.
RAPHEAL TYREE THOMAS
The gunman has been identified as Rapheal Tyree Thomas. He al- legedly discharged a 9mm handgun at about 8 p.m., Sunday firing it “multiple times” in the direction of a large crowd at the event at County Road 235, in Royal.
After the shooting, Thomas reportedly began running away from the scene. Deputies chasing him commanded him to stop, but he ignored their commands.
He threw the firearm away and tried to hide under a vehicle. However, he was taken into custody.
Thomas has been charged with murder, several counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was transported to the Sumter County Jail without bond.
in the investigation, but they do not believe the shooting was a random incident.
The investigation is con- tinuing. Anyone with infor-
mation about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stop- pers of Tampa Bay at 1-800- 873-TIPS, or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
Police responded to the 3200 block of N. 50th Street last Thursday. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot to the head.
Masked Man Convicted Of Grow House Murder
Last week, a jury convicted a man on murder charges. Prosecutors used DNA and fingerprints during the 6-day trial to secure the guilty ver- dict.
According to evidence pre- sented at the trial, 41-year-old Yuniel Sentmanat-Gonza- lez was sentenced to life in prison. The murder took place on May 14, 2015, in Brandon.
The victim was operating a marijuana grow house inside his home. On the day of the murder, the victim and his girlfriend were inside the home when a group of four to six people wearing masks to conceal their identities shat- tered the rear sliding glass door.
The first person to rush through the opening into the house was armed with a gun. Some of the others were armed with machetes.
The victim immediately began to fight back with the attackers, including one who was wielding a machete. The victim continued to fight with the group and ultimately was able to push them out of the sliding glass door, where at least one attacker was cut on the glass. The perpetrators ran through the backyard and jumped over the fence. The victim, overcome by wounds from the fight, died as a result of his injuries.
YUNIEL SENTMANAT- GONZALEZ
Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office
During the struggle, the victim managed to pull the mask off of one of the attack- ers. The victim’s girlfriend was able to see parts of the at- tacker’s face and the mask, which was left behind at the scene.
Detectives were able to identify Sentmanat-Gonza- lez’s fingerprints on three plastic garbage bags found at the scene.
Sentmanat-Gonzalez
was found guilty of first-de- gree felony murder, burglary of a dwelling, and attempted robbery.
Hillsborough State Attor- ney Andrew Warren said, “Our office has prioritized going after the most violent offenders, and this machete- wielding murderer certainly fits that bill. Our community is much safer with him behind bars for life.”
UNCLE SANDY
Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, 9, 18, 36, 43, 59, rather than as you think it should be, 4, 21, 34, 49, 61.
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