Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 6-26-18

Local
New Tech Organization Seeks To Unite With Others
Chief Seeks Help To Solve Shooting Of 14-Year-Old
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Thursday morning, of- ficers with the Tampa Police Department responded to a shooting in the 3100 block of E. Cayuga. When officers ar- rived, they discovered the vic- tim was a 14-year-old.
The officers learned that De’Nico Thomas had been found lying in the street in the 3100 block of E. Cayuga. He had been shot in the left side of the abdomen.
Thomas was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for the in- jury. He was listed in critical condition.
Officers investigating the shooting learned that the sus- pect was riding in a white or light colored sedan. After the shooting, the vehicle fled east- bound on E. Cayuga. The in- vestigation is continuing.
Detectives learned that Thomas was walking home after playing video games with friends when he was shot. Based on witness interviews, detectives believe the uniden- tified suspects may have been traveling in a white or light colored vehicle.
Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan is calling on the com- munity to address gun vio- lence and say ‘Enough is Enough.’
Chief Dugan said, “It doesn’t matter your economic background or where you live, we cannot have gun violence in the streets of our nation, let alone the city of Tampa. Our officers work very hard to re- duce crime, and this is not the
CHIEF BRIAN DUGAN Tampa Police Department
way we want to start off the summer.
“Someone is going to want to blame the victim and ask why he was out at midnight. That is completely irrelevant. Something we need to do as a police department, the media, and society is stop blaming the victims. We need to stand up and say the violence is enough and put an end to it, Chief Dugan said.
He also stressed the impor- tance of community members and police working together to help prevent future shootings from taking place.
Detectives are still actively investigating the shooting. They are asking anyone with information pertaining to the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1=800-873-TIPS, or www.crimestopperstb.com.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward fo up to $3,000 for information about the shoot- ing. Callers can remain anony- mous.
Members of ASATT (A Seat At The Table) are: Cleveland Mitchner, COO; B. J. Atkins, Board Member; James Faison, CEO; David Young, Board Member; Michael Washington, CFO; and Marek Carter, Board Member.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Thursday, June 28th members of a group of tech investors called ASATT, LLC, an acronym for “A Seat At The Table,” will host ‘The Mainframe’.
The event will take place at The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 400 N. Ashley Drive, 3rd Floor, Tampa, 33602, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to determine ex- actly what the Black Tech- nology Ecosystem looks like in Tampa Bay.
This is the organization’s first event.
ASATT, LLC is a Tampa- based minority owned as- piring investment group designed to grow success-
ful, high growth minority small business and tech ventures throughout the state of Florida.
James Faison, III,
CEO of ASATT said, “Our first effort is through the tech inspired event series, The Mainframe. Our intent is to see exactly what the Black tech ecosystem looks like in the Tampa Bay Area.
“We are attempting to create a supportive com- munity around the idea that as Tampa continues to grow in terms of innova- tion, talent and workforce. We want to play a role in that, and have a seat at the table.”
He further said this is the first time the organiza- tion has reached out to the community.
“We want to be able to
connect the dots in the Black Tech Eco System. Gather ideas from others and any real information to support what the Black Tech face looks like.”
The goal of ASATT is to create a self-sufficient envi- ronment where all re- sources will be available under one roof. “We want to offer mentoring, fund- ing, and workshops.
“We want to galvanize the local Black tech com- munity,” Faison said.
Other members of the organization include, Cleveland Mitchner, COO; Michael Wash- ington, CFO. The Board Members are B. J. Atkins, David Young, and Marek Carter.
The event is free and open to the public.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018