Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-23-18

Features
Family Says Murder Victim Was A Loving Mother
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
“He took something so precious from us. She was a determined young lady who was concerned about making a life for herself and her chil- dren. She really loved her children,” Ms. C. Barron, said about her daughter, Ms. Kenyatta Barron.
Ms. Kenyatta Barron
was murdered Sunday night after being shot during a do- mestic violence incident with Ronnie O’neal, III. Her daughter, Ron’Niveya O’neal was also killed. Her son, Ronnie O’neal, IV, re- mains hospitalized with stab wounds and burns.
The family said when Ms. Barron gave birth to her daughter, Ron’Niveya, the infant weighed only 2 pounds.
“She was born with heart problems, the doctors said she had bleeding on the brain. They said she would never walk. She would never talk, and said she wouldn’t live beyond a certain age. But God spared this baby to make it to 9-years-old. She never got a chance to get the blessings God had in store for her.”
them for her, she gave them a list of “dos” and “don’ts.” Her home was sparkling clean, you could eat off the floor. She wanted her kids taken care of and they loved her so much.”
Kenyatta Barron was a Tampa native, the fourth of five children born to Ms. Barron. She attended the public schools of Hillsbor- ough County. But instead of attending traditional high school, she decided to attend virtual school.
“She told me, ‘Mommie, I’m going to make you proud of me.’ She earned her diploma on line, and enrolled at Hillsborough Community College,” her mother said.
She was raised in Praise Outreach and would return on occasion or visit other churches.
Ms. Barron loved writ- ing and writing poetry. The family said she documented everything.
Her sister said, “My sister was a very courageous and God-fearing, loving mother. She was so honest and help- ful, so protective and so beautiful. She was so com- passionate and stood by God’s word.”
The family said when O’neal was shot last year, they told her not to let him move in. “Nobody would take him in after he got shot. I told her not to, but she said, ‘I have to help him God told me to help.’ She took him in and nursed him back to health and this is how he re- paid her,” she stated.
According to the Tampa Police Department, O’neal was 1 of 3 persons injured by gunfire on October 20, 2017. The shooting took place in front of 401 E. Nordica. Po- lice said an unidentified gun- man shot into a crowd of
people.
Last Sunday night Ron-
nie O’neal, III, is alleged to have fatally shot Ms. Bar- ron, in the front yard, where she died. Her daughter, Ron’Niveya, was found dead inside the home, and her son, Ronnie, IV, was found by police suffering from stab wounds and burns.
The child was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and is currently listed in stable con- dition. The family has re- quested he remain a “no information” patient.
Police found Ronnie O’neal, III, in the garage of the burning home. He was charged with 2 counts of first-degree murder, 1 count of attempted first-degree murder, and 1 count of first- degree arson. He is currently being held at the Hillsbor- ough County Jail without bond.
Eleven months Ron’Niveya was Ronnie O’neal, IV, was born on June 26, 2009.
“She had so much pa- tience with her children, and she was learning how to care for a child with special needs. She loved cooking and made nutritious, organic food for her children. She really loved her children,” Ms. Barron said.
Although she was still wearing pampers and still could not verbalize, Ron’Niveya learned to walk and she learned how to com- municate with others.
Ms. Barron said the family called Ron’Niveya “Miss Bossy” because she knew how to let everyone know what she wanted. “She was the oldest child, but she was the baby. She was every- one’s baby.”
Her mother said, “You don’t find young women today who devote themselves to their children, especially when one has special needs. She was very orderly and had a schedule for her children.
“If someone watched
after born,
MS. KENYATTA BARRON RON’NIVEYA O’NEAL 11/13/1984 —- 3/18/2018 7/29/2008 —- 3/18/2018
Police Identify Victims In Double Murder Case
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of two victims in the shooting and arson that took place Sunday. The name of one of the victims is still pending positive identifica- tion.
The woman has been iden- tified as 33-year-old Keny- atta Barron, of 13248 Pike Lake Dr., in Riverview. The male victim has been identi- fied as her son, 8-year-old Ronnie O’neal, IV. The lit- tle girl’s identity has not been released by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. But according to re- ports, it was her daughter, 9.
According to police, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, during the 9-1-1 call, the female caller repeatedly pleas for help and tells the dis- patcher that she’s been shot. An unknown male can be overheard in the background yelling, “Allah Akbar!”
The unknown male in the background further said, “She killed me” and then directed a supposed neighbor, “Don’t come outside, call 9-1-1 now.”
Deputies arrived on the scene and found Ms. Barron lying in the front yard. The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) arrived and began administering first aid. But, she died at the scene.
As they were doing so, they observed fire coming from
RONNIE O’NEAL, III ... Charged with murder
within the residence. Ms. Barron’s son, Ronnie O’neal, IV, was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was admitted with burns and several stab wounds. Firefighters found a little girl inside, who had re- portedly been stabbed several times. She was also deceased.
As law enforcement and firefighters forced entry into the home, the garage door opened. A man later identified as Ronnie O’neal, III, walked out towards the deputies..
O’neal, III, 29, is cur- rently being held at the Hills- borough County Jail without bond. He is charged with 2 counts of first-degree murder, 1 count of attempted first-de- gree murder, first-degree arson, and resisting an officer without violence.
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