Page 37 - Florida Sentinel 1-7-22

Crime
Man Charged With Fatal Hit And Run Accident
College Athlete Killed While Home For Christmas
A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in a fatal hit and run accident. The acci- dent took place October 14, 2021, at 62nd Avenue N. and 55th Street N., in St. Petersburg.
According to police, around 2:45 a. m., on that day, Ms. Kelly Riley, 34, of Largo, was killed. Her passenger, Ms. Gail Hall, was seriously injured.
Police said Eric Dennis was operating a 2020 Chevrolet Ca- maro at a high rate of speed along 62nd Ave. As a result, Dennis crashed into the rear of a motorcycle driven by Gail Hall with a passenger, Kelly Riley. As a result of the colli- sion, both Gail Hall and Kelly Riley were ejected from the motorcycle.
The Camaro continued to travel and crashed through the front of Our Lady of Good Hope Church,causing significant dam- age.
Riley died at a local hospital. Hall received severe injuries from the crash. The driver of the
ERIC DENNIS
Camaro fled the scene.
Through various inves- tigative means, detectives de- termined Eric Dennis was the driver of the vehicle that fled the scene without notify-
The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office is investigating what left a promising athlete dead. No ar- rests have been made. But the investigation is continuing.
According to police, 18-year- old Dylan Jenkins was home for Christmas break from Madonna University in Michi- gan. He attended a gathering at Ackerman Park, in Sarasota County last Wednesday night. At some point, a fight broke out and gunshots were fired. Jenk- ins was struck and died as a re- sult of his injuries. Police said he was not involved in the alterca- tion that led to the shooting.
Jenkins was a standout young man, both on and off the football field. The 18-year-old Riverview High graduate just finished his first college semes- ter and was home for Christmas break when he was shot and killed during a get-together with friends. Deputies said he had nothing to do with the fight that led to the shooting.
DYLAN JENKINS
After graduating from Riverview High School and con- tinued his education and ath- letic pursuit at Madonna University, where he was a standout in the classroom, on the football field, and in Track & Field. He earned a 3.0 grade point average his first semester at the school.
“It was just a senseless act. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was a good kid,” said Riverview Coach Joshua Smithers.
Madonna University head football coach, and Sarasota na- tive, Herb Haygood said,
“during his first and only semes- ter of college, Dylan leaves a lasting legacy.”
Jenkins is survived by his parents, siblings, other family members and friends.
The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office says detectives have interviewed several witnesses and continue to follow up on tips.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call (941) 861-4900, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (941) 366-TIPS.
The community has started a GoFundMe page to help sup- port Dylan’s family. at https://www.gofundme.com/ f/support-for-dylan-jenkins- family. “Any funds raised will go towards funeral costs, memorial services, and journeying to his college dorm to bring his be- longings home. Your gift will help to offer comfort and allevi- ate some of the unthinkable bur- dens facing Dylan’s family, the GoFundMe page stated.
ing law enforcement or render- ing aid to Kelly Riley or Gail Hall. After an extensive investi- gation, detectives established probable cause to take Eric Dennis into custody on January 3, 2022.
He has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash in- volving death; leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bod- ily injury; 2 counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving prop- erty damage; vehicular homi- cide; reckless driving with serious bodily injury; and reck- less driving with property dam- age or injury.
Woman Charged In New Year’s Day Fatal Shooting
The Sarasota Police Depart- ment is investigating a shooting that has left a man dead. It took place in the 1400 block of Main Street, in Sarasota, just before 1:45 a. m., on New Year’s Day.
According to police, Ms. La- toya Johnson, 37, of Sarasota, has been arrested and is facing charges of murder, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She is being held at the Sarasota County Jail on a $1.1 million bond.
Police officers were working a New Year’s Eve event on Main Street when they were alerted to a shooting at 1429 Main Street, Sarasota.
During the investigation, offi- cers determined an adult man had been shot. The man was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hos- pital, where he later died as a re- sult of his injuries.
Ms. Johnson, along with several other people were con- tacted by Sarasota Police officers in front of 1415 2nd Street, after witnesses provided their descriptions. As officers ap- proached the group, they report- edly saw Ms. Johnson conceal a firearm in a planter in the area. The firearm was recovered by of- ficers.
Video from inside the busi- ness showed Ms. Johnson and several other people sitting at a table against the wall. The victim
and his family were seated at a table in the out- side patio area. One of the fam- ily members appeared in- toxicated and tried not to get physically sick.
LATOYA
JOHNSON The family
member walked inside and as he passed Ms. Johnson and the group of friends, he appeared to get sick on one of the people sitting with
Ms. Johnson.
The group got up, ap- proached the family member and a fight started. Ms. Johnson is seen on video holding a black firearm in her right hand as she kicked people on the ground. At the same time, the victim is seen running towards the fight and at- tempting to defend his family by hitting Ms. Johnson on her head. Ms. Johnson turned to the victim and shot him.
Witnesses told officers they confirmed hearing a single gun- shot.
The case remains under in- vestigation. Anyone with infor- mation on this case is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investiga- tions Division at (941) 263-6070 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS.
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