Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 6-11-19

Local
Sheriff’s Office Presents Laptops, Scholarships To ‘Rising Stars’
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Friday, the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Office awarded laptop com- puters to more than 30 stu- dents. The presentation took place at the Falkenburg Road Jail Assembly Room.
More than 30 rising sen- iors across Hillsborough County will enter their final year of high school with a brand new laptop computer and a $1,000 scholarship.
For the past nine years, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has re- warded high-achieving stu- dents during a week-long program known as the “Ris- ing Stars Academy.”
The academy was devel- oped to provide students with a challenging leader- ship course and give them an inside look at possible
SHERIFF CHAD CHRONISTER Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
professions within the Hills- borough County Sheriff's Office, including the SWAT, Bomb, Marine, Aviation and K-9 Units.
Students participating in the program represent each public high school in Hills- borough County. The week-
long leadership course is funded by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and culminated with an awards ceremony for the partici- pants and their families.
Sheriff Chad Chro- nister of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said, “I couldn’t be more proud of these Rising Stars who have shown our deputies over the last week that they have what it takes to be leaders among their peers.
“The skills they've learned through this physi- cally and mentally demand- ing academy will help carry them through the remain- der of their high school ca- reers and into adulthood. Our goal is to help these young people continue to be not only productive stu- dents, but productive citi- zens in our community as well.”
Former NFL Player Dies Of Gunshot Wounds
A 26-year-old man died as a result of gunshot wounds early Saturday. The shooting is being investigated by the Tampa Police Department.
According to police, offi- cers responded to 514 W. Plaza Place, shortly after 5 a.m. When the officers arrived, they discovered a man had been shot and was laying on his back. The officers provided life-saving measures and con- tact Tampa Fire Rescue.
The victim, identified as Eric Patterson, was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Police stated that they were called after the Patterson’s roommate heard a commo- tion, came out into the living room area, and discovered an unknown suspect in the room.
Police said the shooting does not appear to be random. Patterson graduated from Plant High School and played football for Ball State
ERIC PATTERSON, JR. Feb. 5, 1993 --- June 8, 2019
University.
He was signed by the New
England Patriots, the Indi- anapolis Colts, the St. Louis Rams, and the Cleveland Browns. He was released by the Browns in 2016.
Anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestopperstb.com.
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