Page 37 - Florida Sentinel 11-19-21

Crime
Mom Who Shot Son Was Protecting Herself From Attacker
Jury Convicts Man Of Murdering Girlfriend, Child
DARRIS WASHINGTON (From Previous Arrest)
A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a violent domestic dispute. The inci- dent took place Sunday in the 8500 block of N. Alaska Avenue shortly before 6 p.m.
According to the Tampa Police Department, officers responded to the 8500 block of Alaska Street in reference to a child being shot. When they arrived they discovered that a 14-year-old had acci- dentally been shot in the ab- domen. He was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical, but sta- ble condition.
An adult man, identified
The incident took place in the 8500 block of N. Alaska Street Sunday.
TYRONE JOHNSON
Last Friday, a jury con- victed a Tampa man of first- degree murder and second-degree murder. Now, all 12 members of the panel must decide if he should die for his crimes.
The jury decided that Ty- rone Johnson is guilty of killing his girlfriend, 34-year- old Stephanie Willis, and her 10-year-old son, Ricky. The double murder took place on October 21, 2018.
Ms. Willis and her son were found next to each other
STEPHANIE WILLIS AND SON, RICKY
in their apartment. Both suf- fered gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors said an argu- ment that began over a televi- sion show ended in gunfire and a double murder.
Johnson, 45, arrested after being located at the apartment where the mur- ders took place by Hillsbor- ough County deputies. He was charged with 1 count of first-degree murder, 1 count of second-degree murder, ag- gravated child abuse, and shooting within a building.
as Darris Washington, was also discovered on the front lawn. He suffered a stab wound to his back, a laceration to his neck, and a bullet graze to his bicep.
During the investigation, police learned that an ongoing domestic altercation between an adult female victim and Wash- ington had taken place.
The female victim tried to leave the residence with her 6 children to avoid the situation escalating. How- ever, Washington ran after
the woman while she was loading the children in a ve- hicle. Washington is al- leged to have grabbed a 10-year-old boy and threw the child on the ground and began punching him in the face. The woman attempted to stop him, but Washing- ton overpowered her. The 10-year-old suffered minor injuries to his face and scratches on his collar bone area.
The woman ran into the house and armed herself with a firearm as Washing- ton chased after her and threatened her. The victim, out of fear for her life, shot in the direction of Washington and grazed his arm.
In the process, she struck a 14-year-old stand- ing behind Washington. Washington ran out of the house momentarily leaving the residence before running back into the house. He then grabbed the victim and began strangling her. In the process, she armed herself with a knife and stabbed Washington in the back. Officers arrived moments later.
Washington was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition. He has been arrested and charged with domestic battery by strangulation and aggra- vated child abuse.
Police have not released any additional information. The investigation is continu- ing.
Tampa Fire Dept. Distinguishes Car Fire
Damage to the front window of the passenger vehi- cle.
It took Tampa Fire Rescue about an hour to distinguish the car fire that occurred Monday, Tampa Fire Rescue PIO Vivian McIlrath stated. It took one engine at the scene to distinguish the fire.
The fire was to a Volks Wagen on the second floor garage of the Tempo Building at Encore, just off Ray Charles Blvd. A resident there said all of the residents had to be evacuated while the Fire Dept. got the fire under control. The parking garage was filled with smoke, but no injuries were
reported.
The Tampa Police Dept. is
further investigating the fire.
(Photos submitted by Julia Jackson)
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