Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 5-1-20

Crime
Man Pleads Guilty To
Police-Involved Shooting Leaves Man Dead
Threats, Mailing
Detectives are currently in- vestigating a fatal shooting that took place in East Tampa.
Dead Animal
The shooting took place near the intersection of E. Pal- ifox and N. 34th Street.
According to the Tampa Police Department, officers at- tempted to conduct a traffic stop on a white Impala. The vehicle matched the descrip- tion of a vehicle involved in a shooting in Grant Park last Friday.
Police said when the unidentified driver got out of the car, he began shooting at the officers. The officers re- turned fire, shooting and killing the man. The shooting took place shortly before mid- night Tuesday.
Entertainment
A
pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats and mailing a dead animal. A sentencing date has not been set.
Romney Christopher Ellis, of Indianapolis, Indi- ana, is facing a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
According to court docu- ments, for the past four years, Ellis has engaged in a cam- paign of harassment against a victim residing in Hillsbor- ough County through text messages, photographs, videos, and mailings. He threatened to decapitate and set the victim on fire, and he routinely made racially and sexually charged statements in the text messages, includ- ing sending sexually explicit images of himself.
At times, Ellis sent text messages stating that he had traveled from Indiana to Florida to see the victim. Ellis also used the U. S. Mail
55-year-old man
ROMNEY ELLIS
to harass the victim and the victim’s friends and family. On one occasion, Ellis mailed a package to the victim’s home containing a dead rat and black rose.
On February 13, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ellis’s home in Indianapolis and re- covered a handwritten note containing the names and ad- dresses of the victim and the victim’s family and friends.
The officers involved in the shooting were not injured. They will be placed on admin- istrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations by law enforcement and the
Hillsborough County State At- torney’s Office.
The investigation into the shooting is continuing and no additional information was available at press time.
Sports
Shaquille O'Neal To Cover Funeral Expenses For Family Of Slain Louisville Signee Dexter Rentz
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AND DEXTER RENTZ
Shortly after learning Louisville football signee Dex- ter Rentz died in a shooting in Orlando, Shaquille O'Neal reached out to the family to help.
O'Neal, who lives in Or- lando, spoke with Rentz's par- ents and will pay for all funeral expenses, including a horse and carriage and custom-made casket.
"Whatever his mom wants," O'Neal said Monday night.
Rentz was shot and killed late Saturday evening. He was 18. O'Neal saw a news report about Rentz on Sunday and wanted to learn more, watch- ing his football highlights from Ocoee High School, where he was an all-around athlete on the football field and track standout.
Rentz signed with Louisville in December.
The shooting took place near the intersection of E. Palifox Street and N. 34th Street.
COVID-19 Virus Claims Life Of Gospel Singer
A popular gospel singer has died of complications from the COVID-19 Virus. Troy Sneed died in a Jacksonville hospital Monday.
Sneed known for his gospel hits, “My Heart Says Yes,” (2011) and “Worked It Out,” (2008).
A native of Perry, Florida, Sneed played football while in high school. However, injuries prevented him from pursuing his dreams of going to the NFL.
He enrolled at Florida A & M University as an Education major and minor in music. While at FAMU, he joined the choir and launched his career in the gospel music arena.
He taught at Beach Elemen- tary School in Jacksonville until Savoy Records Executive, Rev. Milton Biggham, offered him a position as the Assistant Min- ister of Music for the Georgia Mass Choir.
TROY SNEED
Sneed was nominated for a Grammy award for Youth for Christ’s 1999 album, “Higher.”
He and his wife, Emily, formed their own recording label in 2003 and secured na- tional distribution with GoDigi Path. Sneed earned his first Billboard solo Top Ten hit with the song, “Hallelujah.” His latest album entitled “All My Best,” was released last fall.
Sneed is survived by his wife and their four children.
PAGE 18-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020