Page 35 - Florida Sentinel 8-21-20

Crime
Young Man Arrested And Charged In Murder Of His Brother
Man Arrested For Detaining
EZECKIEL LEGRAND From Facebook Page
JOSUE LEGRAND HCSO Booking Photo
On Saturday night, shortly before midnight, Tampa Po- lice responded to a 9-1-1 call of an unresponsive person. When they arrived at the home in the 3600 block of E. River Grove Drive, they dis- covered the man was dead.
Detectives with the Tampa Police Department arrested 30-year-old Josue Legrand at 9:10 a.m., Tuesday and charged him with second-de- gree murder with a firearm. Police only identified the vic- tim as a Black man in his 30s, and did not disclose his rela- tionship with the suspect. However, a post on Facebook identified him as Ezeckiel Legrand.
According to the Criminal Report Affidavit, when the of- ficers responded to the scene, they discovered the victim was deceased. The call was made by his female cousin who told police the victim was in the laundry room, “unre- sponsive, not breathing, and cold to the touch.” He was discovered by his mother, who does not speak English, police said.
The victim’s cousin told police that Legrand had ar- rived at her home unan- nounced Sunday night. She said they remained in her bedroom until her mother called and said that an urgent
Prosecutors from the Hills- borough State Attorney’s Of- fice arraigned Luis Santos, 54, on Wednesday before Judge Mark R. Wolke, of- ficially informing him that he has been charged with false imprisonment.
Wednesday’s hearing was held via Zoom at 10 a.m.
Last month, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren filed the charge against Santos for illegally detaining an 18-year-old African American student at 5:34 a.m. on June 9, 2020, in Seffner. In what appears to be a case of racial profiling, San- tos stopped the teenager as he was riding his bicycle on his way to basketball practice and held him there until police ar- rived.
The evidence shows the victim had not committed any
LUIS SANTOS
crime and Santos made mis- leading statements to law en- forcement about what he had witnessed. The teenager felt threatened and was not free to leave, while Santos acted as though he had the legal au- thority of a law enforcement officer, including compelling the victim to put his hands in the air until sheriff’s deputies arrived.
Teen Arraigned On False
Imprisonment Charge
FACEBOOK POST from 8/16/2020 From Josue Legrand Facebook Page
call had come and she was needed.
The woman told police she left Legrand alone in her bedroom, but heard some items being shuffled around and then a drawer closing. Both left the residence and went to the scene of the mur- der in separate vehicles.
The woman told police she called her mother after they left the house and asked her to check the drawers at the foot of the bed. The woman said a gun was found that did not belong to her. The gun was turned over to police.
The death was later classi- fied as a murder after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office completed an autopsy. The cause of death was a gun- shot to the corner of his left eye.
The affidavit stated that Josue Legrand was inter- viewed on Saturday night. He reportedly told police that he didn’t believe the victim had committed suicide. He also stated that he did not have a gun and that he had not seen the victim since Friday.
Legrand also stated dur- ing the interview that the vic- tim was “arrogant and
shouldn’t talk to people the way he did.”
Several hours later, police spoke with Legrand again at the scene of the murder. Dur- ing this contact he agreed to be interviewed at the police department.
During the interview, Legrand stated that he would give the victim money to purchase items for resale. Once the items were sold, the victim would repay him and they would share the profits.
When asked if he had shot the victim accidentally or if there was some reason for the shooting, Legrand again de- nied any knowledge or in- volvement in the death. Shortly afterwards, he termi- nated the interview.
Police received the Med- ical Examiner’s Report and confirmation that the shell casing and one from the gun surrendered came from the same weapon that had been surrendered by the victim’s cousin Saturday night.
Detectives arrested Josue Legrand on a warrant Tues- day morning and charged him with second-degree mur- der. He is currently being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 19-A