Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 11-17-17

Features
$100,000 Reward Offered In Seminole Heights Murders
BENJAMIN MITCHELL
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The reward for information pertaining to the four murders in Seminole Heights has in- creased. Law enforcement is now offering $100,000 for in- formation leading to the iden- tification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the deaths.
The Federal Bureau of In- vestigations has offered $50,000 to the $10,000 of- fered by the Florida Depart- ment of Law Enforcement, the $20,000 offered by ATF (Bu- reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) and the $5,000 being offered by Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay. In addition to the $85,000 law enforcement is offering, an ad- ditional $6,000 has been do- nated from the community. Richard Gonzmart pledged an additional $9,000.
Police Wants Suspect Identified
Last month, police released footage of the person captured at the time of the first murder on October 9th. The video shows a person walking toward the direction where Benjamin Mitchell’s body was found and moments later running away in the opposite direction.
At the time, the individual was referred to as a “person of interest.” However, on Wednesday, Chief Brian Dugan released a video taken minutes before 60-year-old Ronald Felton was shot to death.
During the press confer- ence, Chief Dugan said the “person of interest” shown in the first video is now consid- ered a suspect.
“We got to the scene within minutes of the shooting and he was gone. We need to know who this man is. We need to get this man out of our commu- nity. We need someone to give us names. It appears to be the same person in the video. If that person didn’t do it, they know something.”
MONICA HOFFA
Chief Dugan further said he is not using the word “serial killer” but the person in the video may be responsible for at least two of the murders.
The department has re- ceived more than 2,300 leads and two dozen detectives are following them.
The Victims
Police believe the murders are bound by the fact that the victims were alone, walking in the dark, and possibly pre-oc- cupied, Chief Dugan said.
The first murder occurred October 9th. Benjamin Ed- ward Mitchell, 22, was walk- ing near N. 15th Street at Frierson Avenue. His body was found near the bus stop.
On October 13th, around 9:30 a.m., a city employee found the body of Ms. Mon- ica Caridad Hoffa, 32, in a vacant lot in the 1000 block of East New Orleans Avenue. She
ANTHONY NAIBOA
had last been seen walking through the neighborhood on October 11th, en route to meet a friend.
On October 19th, shortly be- fore 8 p.m., 20-year-old An- thony Naiboa was walking north on 15th Street in the area of Wilder Avenue when he was killed.
The suspect waited for nearly a month before he took the life of 60-year-old Ronald Felton. Felton was near the intersection of N. Nebraska Av- enue and E. Caracas, when he was approached from behind. His death is unique in that the killer struck at 4;50 a.m., in- stead of at night as he had in the past.
Anyone with information can report it anonymously and may be eligible for the reward by contacting Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873- TIPS or www.crimestopper- stb.com.
Seminole Heights Shooter Strikes A Fourth Time
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Shortly before 5 a.m., Tues- day, shots rang out once again in Seminole Heights. This time, the victim was a 60-year-old man.
Ronald Felton died at the scene in the streets near N. Ne- braska Avenue and E. Caracas. Felton was walking to the New Season Apostolic Ministries, 5100 N. Nebraska Avenue.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment has linked his death to the three previous deaths that have taken place in the area.
On October 9th, Ben- jamin Mitchell, 22, was found near a bus stop at N. 15th Street and E. Frierson. He died from his injuries.
On the morning of October 13th, a city employee found the body of Ms. Monica Caridad Hoffa, 32, in the 1000 block of New Orleans. Police believe she had been shot several hours earlier.
On October 19th, police in the area of N. 15th Street and Wilder, heard gunshots. Offi- cers arrived at the scene and found the body of 20-year-old Anthony Naiboa.
Unlike in the previous homicides, there were wit- nesses to the shooting. Police said witnesses identified a Black man between 6’ and 6’2” with a thin build and a light complexion. The man was armed with a large, black pis- tol, and was dressed in all black clothing.
RONALD FELTON
... Killed November 14th
Officers arrived at the scene of the shooting within minutes. However, the suspect had fled the scene. A perimeter was set up that included Chelsea to Hillsborough Avenue and Ne- braska Avenue to N. 15th Street.
About The Victim
On June 25, 1957, Ms. Areatha Jones gave birth to twin sons, Ronald and Regi- nald Felton. The twins were born in Sanford and the family moved to Tampa during their
infancy.
Ms. Jones said her son
had worked in the construction industry. However, in recent years, he spent his time at the church. “He would open up every Tuesday and Friday morning and get everything ready,” she said.
She further said he lived in the area and walked to the church for the food give-away.
The investigation into the murders are continuing.
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