Page 38 - Florida Sentinel 9-9-22

Crime
Shooting Victim Identified
5-Month-Old Infant Recovering From Gunshot Wound
A shooting victim who was shot on August 25th at 50th St. and Melburne Blvd., was identified in Friday’s issue as Fred Young. The Sentinel has since learned that he is Fredrick M. D. Bell. He was funeralized last weekend.
Police are asking for the public’s help in solv- ing this crime and find- ing the person or people responsible. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to con- tact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873- TIPS.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is investigating a shoot- ing that left a 5-month-old infant suffering from a gun- shot wound. The shooting took place around 1 p. m., on Saturday.
Police responded to the 8300 block of 17th Street in reference to the shooting. When they arrived, the, in- jured infant was transported to Tampa General Hospital, with a gunshot to its hip. The injury does not appear to be life-threatening, police said.
During the investigation, police learned that Ms. Paula Marie Concepcion Santos, 25, and a 3-year-old child were in the home at the time of the shooting.
According to Ms. Con- cepcion Santos, the 3- year-old accidently fired the
Mary O’Connor
Of Bank Robberies
Man Jailed After Child, 5, Shoots Self Accidentally
FREDERICK M. D. BELL
PAULA MARIE CONCEPCION SANTOS
gun after getting ahold of the weapon. Detectives are still working through the de- tails to determine how the shooting occurred.
Ms. Concepcion San- tos was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm.
Tampa Police Chief
said, “While we’re incredibly thankful this infant was not fatally injured, this should serve as a reminder to every parent or guardian to imme- diately go and check that their guns are
properly secured.
“Children should not be
able to access firearms, and moreover, guns should always be stored in a locked safe with the ammo stored separately. Don’t put the life of a child at risk by being careless.”
To better educate children on gun safety, the Tampa Po- lice Department partnered with More Health last year to produce a video on firearm safety.
The investigation is con- tinuing.
Tampa Man
Indicted For String
A 44-year-old Tampa man has been indicted for four counts of bank robbery. James Junior Williams is currently being held at the Hillsborough County Jail. Williams is being held on a bond of $52,500.
According to the indict- ment, on February 18, 2022, Williams robbed a bank in the Tampa area. Several weeks later, on March 8, 2022, he returned to the same bank and robbed it for a second time. The indict- ment further alleges that Williams attempted to take money from a third bank in the Tampa area on April 13,
JAMES JUNIOR WILLIAMS
2022. When he was unsuc- cessful at this bank, Williams drove to another bank, where he was success- ful in obtaining money.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and is facing several charges after a child was ac- cidentally injured by gunfire. The child was admitted to a local hospital in critical con- dition.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place around 8 a. m., Thursday, September 1, 2022. The Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call that a 5-year-old child ac- cidentally shot himself. Si- multaneously, Aston Simmons drove the child to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
When detectives arrived at the home on the 6000 block of Sunsail Place, in Apollo Beach, they smelled a strong odor of marijuana. No firearm or casing could be ob- served in plain view, so a court-authorized search war- rant was obtained for the res- idence.
and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
Hillsborough County
Sheriff Chad Chronister
said, “There is never a cir- cumstance where a child should have access to a firearm. Now, due to the careless actions of this man, a 5-year-old child is fighting to survive. Please pray for him as he clings to life, and know that the irresponsible person that caused this devastation has been arrested and will be held accountable.”
The 5-year-old was listed in critical condition after the shooting.
Simmons is not related to the 5-year-old child. How- ever, the identity of the child will not be released due to Marsy’s Law. This remains an active investigation.
Simmons was released from the Hillsborough County Jail after posting bond.
ASTON SIMMONS
During the investigation, detectives determined that the 5-year-old found an unse- cured and loaded firearm in a bedroom and the child acci- dentally shot himself. Sev- eral pounds of marijuana and U. S. currency were seized from the residence along with drug paraphernalia.
Simmons is now facing multiple charges including, improper storage of a firearm
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