Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 9-7-18

Crime
Crime Stoppers Offer Reward For Murder Suspect
18-Year-Old
Gunshot Victim
Dies Of Injuries
An 18-year-old Tampa man died Monday night at a local hospital. His death is at- tributed to being shot.
According to the Tampa Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of N. Brooks Street and E. Annie Street in reference to gunshots. When they arrived around 8:35 p.m., they dis- covered a man who had been shot. Fire Rescue responded to the scene and adminis- tered first aid before he was transported to Tampa Gen- eral Hospital. He later died as a result of his injuries.
The man has been identi- fied as Tesean D. Blue, of Tampa. Detectives are ac- tively pursuing leads in the
TESEAN D. BLUE 3/25/2000 — 9/4/2018
investigation and are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestopperstb.com.
Student Arrested
For Pellet Gun
Shootings
A 17-year-old Pasco County student was arrested for shooting several people with a pellet gun. He al- legedly shot three people who filed reports with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office last week.
According to police,
Logan Anthony Bruno,
of New Port Richey has been charged with 3 counts of ag- gravated battery with a deadly weapon. He used a gas-powered pistol that fired BB pellets.
One victim on Trouble Creek was struck in the lower rib cage, causing a lac- eration and bleeding.
A victim on Dhalia Av- enue was struck in the lower right abdomen. That injury also caused a laceration and bleeding.
The third person who filed a complaint was struck in the lower right abdomen and the injury caused a lac- eration and bleeding.
According to police, the
LOGAN ANTHONY BRUNO
suspect was traveling in a vehicle shooting at the vic- tims. There may also be ad- ditional criminal mischief charges filed against the sus- pect because police believe he fired at parked vehicles as well.
The New Port Richey Po- lice Department is also in- vestigating several similar cases that have been re- ported to them.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Police are searching for a 27-year-old man in connec- tion with a murder that took place on August 26th. A war- rant has been issued for the arrest of Travis Joshua Gray. Gray is considered armed and dangerous, police said.
New information released in the case revealed that after Anthony Jefferies was shot, Gray fled the scene in a 2003 Lexus RX 330. Gray is known to frequent the Uni- versity Community area of North Tampa.
Gray is facing second-de- gree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm charge.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information pertaining to Gray’s where- abouts.
On the day of the shoot- ing, deputies responded to a
ANTHONY JEFFERIES
report of gunshots being fired shortly after 5 p.m. When Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 14352 Lucerne Drive, they discovered a man had been injured by gunfire. He was transported to a local hospi- tal, where he died. He was identified as 25-year-old An- thony Jefferies.
During the investigation, police have identified Gray as the person involved in the shooting. Gray is described as being 6’2” and weighs 175
TRAVIS JOSHUA GRAY ... Wanted For Murder
pounds.
Detectives are asking any-
one with information about the shooting or the where- abouts of Gray to contact the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office at (813) 247- 8200; or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873- TIPS, or www.crimestopper- stb.com.
A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for informa- tion pertaining to the mur- der. Those with information can remain anonymous.
Man Charged With Murder Of Toddler
Police have arrested a 24- year-old man in connection with the death of a toddler. The child died at a local hos- pital last Friday.
According to the Lake- land Police Department, offi- cers responded to 1020 North Stella Avenue, shortly before 11 p.m., in reference to a child being unresponsive. Officers immediately began CPR until Lakeland Fire Res- cue arrived. The child, iden- tified as 2-year-old Mekhi Laster, died as a result of his injuries.
After his death, an au- topsy was performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy report listed the child’s injuries as: bruises on Laster’s back, face and lip area; injury to his abdomen; numerous broken posterior ribs; a broken pelvis; a swollen scrotum; multiple internal injuries believed to have been caused by blunt force trauma; evidence of se- vere internal bleeding; and significant impacts to the vic-
JAMAL CARSON
tim’s skull. One of the frac- tures to the skull was so se- vere that it traversed into the thickest portion of the base of the skull, the report stated.
When police interviewed the child’s mother, Ms. La- monica Laster, she told them that Jamal Carson, who she described as her best friend, had been caring for the toddler for the last two weeks.
When police interviewed Carson, he told police that the child had become “fussy,”
and that he was suffering from a broken foot and he thought he was in pain.
Carson told police the child’s health continued to deteriorate so he carried him to the air conditioner to cool down in an effort to wake him. He waited an additional 20 minutes before he called for medical assistance.
After receiving the au- topsy report, detectives in- terviewed Carson again. During the second interview, Carson admitted that he was the sole provider of care for the toddler.
He also admitted to po- lice that while he was caring for Laster, he became frus- trated with him and punched the child several times, squeezed him forcefully, slammed his head onto the concrete floor at least two times, and committed other intentional acts of violence.
Carson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
PAGE 22-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018