Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-16

Features
New Reward Program To Combat Gun Violence
On Tuesday, a press confer- ence was held to announce a new reward program to com- bat gun violence.
Held at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, law enforcement officials, and judiciary personnel, were in at- tendance to launch the new ini- tiative aimed at curbing a recent increase in gun violence.
The new initiative, “See It, Say It, Stop It,” is a gun bounty program, not a gun buy-back program.
If anyone knows someone who has an illegal gun, they can pass that information to law enforcement anonymously for a $1,000 reward.
The goal is to get illegal weapons and the people who use them off the street.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn
said this can’t only be a law en- forcement issue.
“It has to be parents that are willing to talk. It has to be
students and peers who may know young people who have guns.”
Unlike other programs that rely on private donations, the gun bounty program will be funded with a $40 fee paid to Crime Stoppers by people who elect to participate in the felony pre-trial intervention program.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober addresses the audience during a news conference to announce the new program.
Man Charged With Murder Tells Different Story About 2015 Shooting
During the early morning hours of August 8, 2015, El- drid Martin and James Rodgers were among a group of people in the area of 1515 139th Avenue.
Tampa Police reports in- dicated Martin and Rodgers became involved in a dispute over money, and Rodgers produced a hand- gun and shot Martin. The report also indicates Martin returned fire, and struck Rodgers three times.
On February 1, 2016, Rodgers was arrested by Tampa Police, and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting.
Although detectives have documented what they be- lieve happened, Rodgers said none of it is true.
Rodgers, paralyzed from the waist down and in a power chair, came to the Sentinel offices, accompa- nied by his fiancé and their two children, to give his ver- sion of what happened.
“First of all, I never knew
JAMES RODGERS
Eldrid Martin, so how could he owe me money? We were just at the same place at the same time.
“I didn’t shoot Eldrid, and I don’t believe he shot me. I believe the shooter was among the people at the scene talking to police about what happened, and just put me out there.”
Rodgers said he’s sorry about what happened to Martin, but he had nothing to do with it.
“My family, friends, and my fiancé are all very upset about this. I didn’t have a
gun when this happened, and I dispute the police accounts of what happened.
“I was in the area, and all I remember is shots being fired, I tried to run, and I was shot three times and robbed.”
Rodgers said he wants to set the record straight about what happened, and he wants Ms. Williams to know he didn’t kill her son.
“I don’t know why Eldrid Martin was shot, but I be- lieve I was shot because of my cousin, Richard New- ton, who was also gunned down.
“I think the same people who had a beef with him, took it out on me because I was wearing a lot of stuff in his memory when I was shot. I also believe the same peo- ple shot Eldrid Martin.”
Rodgers said he hasn’t hired an attorney on this lat- est charge, but he has been conferring with an attorney on other charges he’s dealing with.
House Fire Leaves Four Adults Homeless
At 3:52 p. m. Monday, Tampa Fire Rescue units re- sponded to a structure fire at 2610 Corrine Street in Pal- metto Beach. When units ar- rived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the two-story, wood frame residential structure.
Due to the size and inten- sity of the flames crews fought the fire defensively from the outside until they had the fire knocked down enough to enter the structure safely.
Residents of the structure told officials all four people liv- ing inside the structure got out safely. The fire was under con- trol at 5 p. m.
The American Red Cross is assisting the four displaced adults at this time. No one was injured.
Fire investigators deter- mined a small fire started in the northwest bedroom of the
downstairs and spread to the rear attic space. The fire was caused by an electrical failure in the circuit wiring of the bed- room due to an overloaded cir- cuit.
Damage to the structure and its contents is estimated to be $45,000.
Smoke bellows from a home on Corrine Street.
Meeting
Middleton Senior High School Class Of 1956
The Middleton Senior High School Class of 1956 will be meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Branch Library, 2607 E. Dr. M. L. K., Jr. Blvd. Please plan to attend the 1 p. m. meeting.
The main topic of discussion is the 60th Class Reunion to be held this year, 2016. All class members are asked to please submit your survey that was mailed, or bring it to the meeting – we must finalize details.
For additional information, call (813) 626-1447. John Anderson is General Chairperson.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016