Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 1-1-19

Meeting
Feature
Mother Of Slain Tampa Man Seeks Closure
Middleton High Class Of 1970 Planning Meeting
The Middleton High School Class of 1970 will kick off their planning meeting for the 2020 reunion. The meeting will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019, 10 a. m. – 12:30 p. m. at the Robert Saunders Branch Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave.
Please be present and on time. The election of officers and team assignments will take place.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The holidays are often a time of sorrow and sadness for many people. During the holidays, many people suffer the loss of a family member.
However, the death is eas- ier to accept when it is as a re- sult of an illness or an accident. But, when a family must contend with a murder, it raises their grief to a higher level. Worst still is when the murder goes unsolved.
Mrs. Simuel Cotten
and her family are experienc- ingthelossofalovedoneasa result of gun violence. Her son, 43-year-old Larry Cot- ten, Jr., was killed on De- cember 30, 2017. And, his death remains unsolved and the shooting an open file with the Tampa Police Depart- ment.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the shooting at 1806 N. Nebraska Avenue, took place shortly after 7 p.m. Officers re- sponded to the address in ref- erence to shots fired.
When they arrived, they discovered that Cotten and Ms. Frances Helms suf- fered gunshot wounds. Cot- ten died a few hours after being shot. Ms. Helms re- covered.
Police stated that the shooting did not appear ran- dom. However, no suspects have been arrested in the case.
A spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department said, “While this is still an ac- tive investigation, and inves- tigators look into all leads, no witnesses have come forward to speak with our detectives.
“We are hopeful a mem- ber of the community will step up and provide a tip to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay so we can hold the shooter accountable and bring a sense of justice to the family of Larry Cotten,
Jr.M” s. Cotten, who lives a short distance from where the murder took place, vividly recalls the shooting.
“I was in the kitchen and I heard the three shots, but I didn’t pay any attention to it. When they told me it was Larry, I didn’t believe it,” she said.
Ms. Cotten said her son was a unique person. He
LARRY COTTEN, JR. 1/13/1974 —- 12/30/2017
grew up in Tampa and at- tended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He graduated from Robinson High School and then re- ceived training in the Job Corps. He played football in school and then joined the Navy briefly, never knowing that he had been born with heart disease or high blood pressure.
About 4 years before his death, Cotten was diagnosed with heart disease and con- gestive heart failure. He was hospitalized several times after that. On one occasion, he was admitted to Tampa General Hospital with his heart functioning at only 15%.
“He was ill, but he would- n’t accept it. It didn’t stop him. And he never acted as if he were sick,” she said.
Earlier in his life, Cotten had gone to school to become a barber. His mother said he didn’t earn his certification, but he supported himself as a barber and by selling food at the location where he was fa- tally injured.
She further said the peo- ple who frequented the loca- tion would often play cards or dominoes as well.
“His death has been dev- astating for our family. This past Thanksgiving was the worst I ever had. The family just couldn’t seem to come together. It’s a hard pill to swallow, one that I don’t wish on anyone,” the mother of 8 children said.
In addition to dealing with her own grief, Ms. Cot- ten said her grandchildren are missing their father. Shortly before school dis- missed for the winter break, her daughter-in-law had to pick up their 7-year-old from school.
“He just wouldn’t stop
crying. He wanted his daddy. He is missing his daddy. My son had 12 children and he had a special bond with all of them. He loved them uncon- ditionally,” she said.
Ms. Cotten said the fam- ily will remember him on the anniversary of his death. They plan to visit the ceme- tery.
But, she is hoping for some news about who killed her son. “We need some clo- sure.”
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873- TIPS, or www.crimestopper- stb.com.
Anyone with information may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3