Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-18-17

Features
Young Accident Victim Moved To Tampa 3 Weeks Ago
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, 13-year-old Messiah Hector would have begun school for the first time in Hillsborough County. He would have been a 7th grader at Shields Middle School.
However, tragedy struck his family when Messiah was struck and killed in a car accident last Saturday. He died at the scene.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, Messiah was riding a black big wheel tricycle near the in- tersection of 21st Street South East, and 3rd Avenue South East, in Ruskin.
Keith Silva, of Ruskin, was driving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am and didn’t see the teenager because of a lack of lighting in the area. Messiah was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
His mother, Ms. Patricia (Nicole) Gibbs, said the tri- cycle belonged to a neighbor and her son had also rode it earlier in the day. She had just left home en route to work when the accident took place.
Messiah’s father, Leon Hector, of Roanoke, Vir- ginia, said he had spoken with his son about 20 minutes be- fore the accident happened. “He had called me about school.”
Today, the parents are struggling with the loss of their son. In addition to hav- ing to come to terms with their loss, the family is trying to raise money for his funeral expenses. The family did not have life insurance. They are hoping members of the com- munity will provide assis- tance.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Messiah and his family relocated to Brunswick, GA. Three weeks ago, they moved to Hillsbor- ough County, where Ms. Gibbs has relatives.
“I moved here to get him out of that neighborhood in
MESSIAH HECTOR 3/16/2004 --- 8/12/2017
Georgia. I wanted to make it better for him and his sister. It was not a good area.”
Ms. Gibbs described Messiah as a typical teenager who enjoyed playing football, riding his bicycle and loving to be outside. When he was inside, he loved to draw. And he loved his family.
Both parents, who are the best of friends, have other children resulting in Mes- siah belonging to a large blended family that includes 5 brothers, 2 sisters, and sev- eral other family members. Standing at 5’7”, he was a “big boy” who wore a size 13 shoe and loved to eat.
His absence is already being felt by his family. “I miss going into the house, seeing his face, and having him joking and playing with me. I just want him back,” his mother said, choking back tears.
His father was speechless with grief. Ms. Gibbs said Hector has been able to speak much since the tragedy took place.
Funeral services for Mes- siah were incomplete at press time. His services and burial will take place in Tampa. Harmon’s Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution can visit the go- fundme page at www.go- fundme.com/13-yr-old-messi ah-hector.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking help to find an eld- erly woman. She was last seen on Wednesday evening.
According to police, Ms. Helen Howard, 69, left the Florida Hospital on Fletcher Avenue, 3100 E. Fletcher Av- enue, around 1 p. m., Wednesday. The next time she was seen was at the Pop- eye’s Restaurant, 14901 N. Florida Avenue.
Ms. Howard left the restaurant and headed in a northern direction on Florida Avenue, around 5 p. m. No one has seen or heard from her since that time.
MS. HELEN HOWARD
Ms. Howard is consid- ered endangered because of a medical condition. She is de- scribed as being 5’2” tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with black and gray hair. She has brown eyes and was last seen wearing a blue dress, pink shoes, and a gray sweater.
Police are not sure if Ms. Howard was being treated at the hospital or if she was visiting someone there.
Anyone with information pertaining to her where- abouts is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
Police Seek Help To Locate Elderly Missing Woman
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