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Features
Family Of 5 Escape Overnight Fire In Ybor
Custody Battle May Have Lead To Husband Killing Estranged Wife
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday morning Michelle Dukes, 34, was stabbed in the neck then shot by her husband, Keith Dukes, 48. Dukes is facing a second-degree murder charged and is being held without bail.
Deputies said the couple has three daughter, ages 14, 13, and 7, who witnessed the inci- dent.
According to reports, the Dukes’ were married, but sep- arated, and in a child custody dispute. The children are now in the custody the Department of Children and Families.
The incident began at the home of the couple, 8818 Van Fleet Road, in Riverview, when a call was received at 7:17 a. m. as Michelle Dukes was re- portedly taking the girls to school.
Investigators reported that a neighbor heard screaming and went outside and reported seeing Michelle Dukes hold- ing her throat with blood drip- ping down her neck. The neighbor said he then saw Keith Dukes come out of the home with a handgun.
Dukes reportedly pointed the gun at the neighbor, Frank Breden, and pulled
KEITH DUKES
the trigger. The gun didn’t fire, and Dukes tried to re-cham- ber the gun and allegedly told Breden he needed to “get out of here.”
Deputies said that’s when Michelle Dukes ran to the home of another neighbor where Keith Dukes pursued her and fired one shot. When another neighbor walked out- side to see what was going on, Dukes allegedly pointed the gun at him, but did not fire.
Investigators said
Michelle Dukes, Breden and the other neighbor, Jef- fery Lecroy all sought shelter in the home of another neigh- bor. Deputies said the neigh- bor locked the door, but Keith Dukes reportedly broke through the door. Michelle Dukes and the neighbors re- portedly locked themselves in
MICHELLE DUKES
a bedroom, but Keith Dukes punched a hole in the wall.
Deputies said one of the neighbors tried to get the gun away from Keith Dukes, who left the home and said he was going to get another gun.
When deputies arrived, Dukes was found hiding under a boat dock on the Alafia River. He allegedly told deputies that his life was over because his wife tried taking his kids away from him.
Michelle Dukes was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries before she was pronounced dead hours later.
Keith Dukes, along with the murder charge, was also charged with two counts of ag- gravated assault with a firearm and armed burglary of an oc- cupied dwelling with battery.
An early morning fire sent a family of five running from the Ybor City home.
Tampa Fire Rescue reports that two adults and three chil- dren safely escaped a house fire early Monday morning in Ybor City.
Tampa Fire Rescue re- sponded to 2414 East 9th Av- enue just after midnight and found flames coming from under the roof of the one-story, wood framed house.
The fire was extinguished, and Fire Marshals are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
According to Tampa Fire Rescue, the residents did not request assistance from the American Red Cross, and City Code Enforcement inspectors were at the home trying to de- termine if the family can re- turn.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3