Page 39 - Florida Sentinel 7-22-22

Crime
Three Men Charged With East Tampa Murder
Tampa Man Charged
GAVEN WOLDEN
Police have arrested three men and charged them with a murder that took place last year.
They are facing a first-de- gree murder as well as other charges.
According to the Tampa Police Department on Sep- tember 10, 2021, officers re- sponded to a report of shots fired in the area of the 2900 block of N. 17th Street. Upon arriving at the scene, they found an adult man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he
BENJAMIN SMILEY
later died.
Information gathered
during the investigation, led police to 25-year-old Gavin Alexander Wolden, of Wesley Chapel; Benjamin Aakeem Smiley, 23, of Zephyrhills, and 23-year-old Israel Montanez, of Tampa.
It was learned that the three men and the victim all knew each other, and this was not a random act.
Detectives said the three men began physically as- saulting the victim, who was in his vehicle at the time.
ISRAEL MONTANEZ
This escalated to shots being fired and the victim being killed.
After developing leads, Tampa Police Homicide De- tectives established probable cause to arrest Wolden, Smiley, and Montanez for burglary of a conveyance with the intent to commit a battery, and felony murder in the first degree.
At the time of arrest, Gavin Wolden was already in prison on other charges. He was also charged with tampering with physical evi- dence.
A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with first disagree murder after a man’s body was found last week.
Last Thursday, Tampa Po- lice responded to the report of a “male down” near a neighborhood lake dock.
Tampa Police and Tampa Fire Rescue were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, of- ficers found a deceased 􏰀􏰁􏰂􏰃􏰄 adult male with upper body trauma.
Detectives were able to identify Kristopher Chan- dler as a suspect in the case. The investigation led detec- tives, after developing leads, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence.
During an interview with Homicide detectives, Chan- dler admitted to being at the
KRISTOPER CHANDLER
scene and shooting the vic- tim. Chandler also provided the location of the gun be- lieved to be used in the mur- der, which is now in police custody.
Chandler has been charged with murder and car- rying a concealed weapon.
He was transported to Orient Road Jail.
With Murder After
Man’s Body Found
Three Indicted For Convenience Store Robberies
Man Charged
DYONNIE ALVAREZ
Last week, U. S. Attor- ney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging three Hillsborough County resi- dents with four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to com- mit those robberies and four counts of brandishing a firearm during the commis- sion of the crimes,
Ms. Dyonnie Alvarez,
22, of Tampa, her brother, Christopher Alvarez, 18, of Gibsonton, and Enrique
CHRISTOPHER ALVAREZ Marquez, 26, also of
Tampa, are the defendants. Ms. Alvarez and Marquez have also each been charged with an additional Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years for each robbery count, and up to 20 years for the conspiracy count. The firearm charges each carry a mandatory min- imum term of imprisonment of 7 years, and up to life, in prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
ENRIQUE MARQUEZ
According to the indict- ment, on May 5, 2022, Ms. Alvarez, Christopher Al- varez, and Marquez robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, they brandished a firearm. The next morning, the trio robbed two more Tampa area con- venience stores in the same manner. In addition, on May 1, 2022, Ms. Alvarez and Marquez attempted to rob a citizen to obtain narcotics.
Clearwater Police detec- tives have arrested a 24-year- old man in the murder of his mother.
Logan Lopez was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 53- year-old Mary Beth Lopez that occurred Saturday evening at The Palms at Countryside Apartments, 25350 U. S. 19 N.
Officers were called to the scene about 5 p.m. after a neighbor heard a woman screaming for help in a nearby apartment. Inside that apartment, they found Mary Beth Lopez dead.
Logan Lopez told the first officers on scene, and later homicide detectives, that he had killed her.
Lopez said he had lured his mother to his apartment
LOGAN LOPEZ
for the purpose of “putting an end to her” after planning the murder for a year. He beat her with a hammer and he also stabbed her several times.
Logan Lopez has no previous arrest history with the Clearwater Police Depart- ment. He does have a previ- ous Baker Act history.
With Killing His
Mother With
Hammer
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