Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 1-26-18

Feature
State Attorney Seeks Death Penalty In Serial Killings
HOWELL EMANUEL DONALDSON, III
... Facing four counts of first- degree murder
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Tuesday, the State prosecutor announced his of- fice would seek the death penalty in the deaths of four people. The murders took place during a 51-day period last year.
During that period, Ben- jamin Mitchell, 22; Mon- ica Hoffa, 32; Anthony Naiboa, 20; and Ronald
Felton, 60; all were mur- dered by the alleged same person. The killings all took place in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa.
On November 29th, police charged Howell Emanuel Donaldson, III, with four counts of first-degree mur- der.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren stated during a press conference, “After re- viewing the evidence, analyz- ing legal factors and meeting with families of the victims,
this office will seek the sen- tence of death against How- ell Emanuel Donaldson III.”
Attorney Warren fur- ther said that his office is “Prepared to go to trial in 175 days - as required by law ... But the reality is, a homicide case in Hillsborough County and across the state of Florida is likely to take a few years before it gets to trial.”
He further stated that his office had came to the deci- sion to seek the death penalty after speaking with the fami-
lies of the victims and “taking time for the quiet reflection that this tremendous respon- sibility demands.
“The death penalty is for the worst of the worst, crimes that are far more egregious than the typical murder, and that’s what we have here.”
On November 28th, Don- aldson, who was employed at the McDonald’s Restau- rant in Ybor City, walked into the business and gave a bag to an employee. The bag con- tained a handgun. Ms. De- Landa Walker, one of the
Manager’s alerted a police of- ficer sitting in the restaurant. When Donaldson re- turned to the restaurant, po- lice took him into custody. He reportedly admitted that the gun had been in his pos- session since he purchased it on October 7th, two days be-
fore the first murder. Donaldson also gave
police permission to search his vehicle which is alleged to have contained bloodstained clothing.
A trial date has not been set in the case, officials said.
BENJAMIN MITCHELL MONICA HOFFA ANTHONY NAIBOA RONALD FELTON ...Murdered October 9th ... Murdered October 11th ... Murdered October 19th ... Murdered Nov. 14th
School News
School District Kicks Off Kindergarten Roundup
The Hillsborough County Public School District has launched its kindergarten roundup for the 2018-2019 school year. The roundup period opened on January 10th and ends on January 31st.
Parents can apply directly online for School Choice and Magnet options. Parents interested in enrolling children in their assigned attendance school area can attend the Kinder- garten Round Up for that school.
Parents who visit the schools are encouraged to bring the child’s birth certificate, health information and home address documentation to register the child. For those parents who are unable to attend the Round Up events are encouraged to enroll the child in school by June 2018.
For additional information about the Round Up visit the District website at www.sdhc.k12.fl.us and see the Kindergarten Round Up information.
For more information or questions call the Choice Informa- tion Line at (813) 272-4692.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A