Page 37 - Florida Sentinel 9-9-22

Crime
Gang Leader Gets Nearly 4 Years For Possessing Firearm
Bond Set At $2.5M
U. S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sen- tenced Devin Kelly, 27, of Tampa, to three years and ten months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
The court also ordered Kelly to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Kelly had pleaded guilty on April 19, 2022.
According to court docu- ments, on July 2, 2021, Kelly, a convicted felon, and Keyshawn Watts, also a convicted felon, held and dis- played a rifle during an In- stagram live video. One week later, investigators searched Kelly’s residence and seized a Ruger AR .556 caliber rifle and an extended magazine loaded with 40 rounds of am- munition.
The rifle had features that
Shooting Children
A 15-year-old high school student was taken into cus- tody last week after a gun was discovered in her back- pack. She was charged with having a gun on campus.
The Tampa Police De- partment arrested Jayleen Hernandez last Wednesday at the end of the school day. The arrest took place at Hillsborough High School, 5000 Central Avenue.
According to the Tampa Police Department, on Au- gust 31, 2022, the school re- source officer at Hillsborough High School, was notified by an anony- mous student that another student was in possession of a firearm on campus.
The SRO immediately at- tempted to locate the stu- dent, who was not in her designated class. The SRO and school staff were able to locate the female student during dismissal near the bus ramp. She was escorted to the gymnasium where her backpack was searched.
The student was found to
JAYLEEN HERNANDEZ
be in possession of a loaded 9mm firearm wrapped in a t- shirt inside her bag. Jayleen Hernandez was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school prop- erty, and minor in possession of a firearm.
The investigation into this incident, including how Hernandez was able to
gain access to a gun and her motive for bringing the weapon on campus, is ongo- ing.
Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor said, “There is no greater priority for our officers than student safety, and we are thankful that our SRO took the information shared with him seriously, taking action to find this student and secure a weapon that could have been used to cause serious harm to others.
“Just one month into the new school year, I cannot stress enough that it is criti- cal for students, teachers and staff to speak up when they are made aware of a threat such as this. See Something, Say Something. In this case, it could have saved lives.”
DEVIN KELLY
matched those of the rifle ob- served by investigators on the Instagram live video. Kelly admitted that the rifle was the same firearm he had dis- played on the video.
Kelly was a member of the Bloods street gang and held a leadership position within the gang. At the time he possessed the firearm, Kelly had been convicted of
KEYSHAWN WATTS
multiple felony offenses, in- cluding aggravated assault and being a felon in posses- sion of a firearm, and there- fore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or am- munition under federal law.
Watts previously pleaded guilty to the same of- fense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 4, 2022.
Last Friday, a Hillsbor- ough County judge set the bond of a Tampa man at $2.5 million. He is accused of killing his 5-year-old daugh- ter and critically injuring his 8-year-old son.
Jermaine Bass, 30, has been charged with first-de- gree, premeditated murder with a firearm in the death of his daughter, attempted mur- der in the first-degree, pre- meditated with a firearm, and aggravated child abuse with a firearm causing criti- cal injuries.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting took place at a residence in the 13000 block of Heritage Club Drive, on Monday, August 29th, around 10 p.m.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they located two young children with in- juries. Both children were rushed to Tampa General Hospital. The 5-year-old vic- tim was pronounced de- ceased at the hospital.
The 8-year-old victim is
JERMAINE BASS
currently in critical condi- tion.
“This is an experience no law enforcement or first re- sponder should ever have to witness. We as a sheriff’s of- fice are struggling. I hope that this individual feels the full weight of the criminal justice system and never sees the light of day where he can ever be in a position to harm another human being.”
At this time, all those be- lieved to be involved in this incident are accounted for and the investigation is active and ongoing.
For Dad Accused Of
15-Year-Old Student Arrested For Having Gun On Campus
UNCLE SANDY
Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, 8, 15, 22, 36, 40, just remember how far you have come, 6, 17, 26, 33, 58.
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