Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 12-12-17

Features
Tragedy Led Activist To Launch Annual
Candlelight Vigil
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For several years, Mrs. Vivian Heyward and her husband, the late Chris Heyward, operated a car sales business in East Tampa.
One day in 1994, Vennis Rogers purchased a vehicle from the couple. A few hours later tragedy struck.
She recalls, “He had just left the car lot and a little while later, I heard that he had been gunned down. It bothered me so much that I organized my first Candle- light Vigil in honor of Ven- nis and to bring attention to the senseless violent deaths in our community.”
The idea caught on quickly and was embraced by the community. She began hosting the Candle- light Vigil every December. In the beginning, family members and friends of those who died violent
VIVIAN HEYWARD
... Began Candlelight Vigil 23 years ago
deaths participated. But soon, the event drew rela- tives and friends of others who had died throughout the year.
Now, Mrs. Heyward is preparing to host the event for the 23rd year.
It will take place at the Seminole Height Baptist Church, 801 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, 33610, from 4
p.m. until 6 p.m., on Sat- urday, December 16th.
The event is being presented by Safe & Sound Hillsborough.
The years passed and the list of names has continued to grow, many of the deaths unsolved. Mrs. Heyward said, “The problem never went away, it only became worse. The deaths have be- come so frequent, I couldn’t keep up with them.”
As the problem in- creased, Mrs. Heyward was supported in her efforts by others in the community. “We have formed and organ- ized marches and vigils to bring awareness to all of the elected officials, police and deputies as the crime rate soars and gets worse.”
She further pointed out to add to the problem, peo- ple are leaving guns in their vehicles. When the vehicles are broken into or stolen, the teenagers obtain guns, along with other valuables.
“We have a culture that resorts to gun violence to solve their problems and un- fortunately, there are inno- cent people losing their lives along the way. Enough is enough,” she said.
Mrs. Heyward said, “Congress must address this issue of gun violence. There are too many guns in circu- lation and many people are able to obtain them through legal loopholes... Enough people have died because of the reluctance of our legisla- tors to offend the NRA.”
She suggests that by cre- ating an in-school mentor- ing program for children who are getting into trouble can help stop the trend. Set curfews for children caught stealing cars, hold the gun owner responsible for leav- ing guns in their cars unse- cured, and require gun shop and pawn shop owners to strengthen their security systems or hire security when the business is closed.
Mrs. Heyward is invit- ing the community to come out, wear their tee shirts and join others in remembering their loved ones.
Grand Jury Indicts Man In Seminole Heights Murders
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Thursday, members of the Grand Jury of Hillsbor- ough County handed down a four-count indictment. The indictment allows Hillsbor- ough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to pro- ceed with filing first-degree murder charges against Howell Emanuel Donald- son, III.
Donaldson, 24, was ar- rested on November 28th and charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
He is accused of killing Benjamin Mitchell on Oc- tober 9th, while Mitchell was near the bus stop at the inter- section N. 15th Street and E. Frierson Avenue. A video at a business captured the image of the hooded individual mo- ments before walking in the direction where Mitchell was found and walking in the opposite direction moments after the murder.
Four days later, the body of Ms. Monica Caridad Hoffa was found in a vacant lot near E. New Orleans Av- enue and N. 11th Street. Police believe she was killed on the night of October 11th as she was walking to meet a friend.
HOWELL EMANUEL DONALDSON, III
Officers also responded to 9-1-1 calls of shots being fire in the area near N. 11th Street and East New Orleans Av- enue, shortly before 9 p.m.
At 7:57 p.m., on October 19th, Anthony Naiboa was shot once after he mistakenly got off the bus at the wrong stop and was walking in the 5100 block of N. 15th Street.
The next murder did not occur for 26 days. At 4:50 a.m., on November 14th, shots rang out again. This time, the victim was Ronald Felton, who was killed near the inter- section of E. Caracas and N. Nebraska Avenue.
Donaldson is slated to be arraigned on the murder charges on Tuesday, Decem- ber 12th, at 10 a.m.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017