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Features
Tampa Woman Dies Of Multiple Gunshot Wounds
Several shots were fired through the bedroom window of Sharon Watkins’ apartment, killing her instantly.
More Than 500 Guns Collected During Gun Buy-Back Initiative
Detectives with the Tampa Police Department are cur- rently investigating a shooting that left a woman dead. The death took place at a West Tampa apartment.
According to police, officers responded to a 9-1-1 call in the 1805 N. Delaware Avenue, Saturday.
Upon arrival at the scene, of- ficers discovered the body of Mrs. Sharon Darns Watkins, 58, of that address. Mrs. Watkins was deceased in the bedroom and had suf- fered several gunshot wounds. Her body was discovered by her husband.
Police said Mrs. Watkins’ husband is not a suspect in his wife’s murder.
Friends said Mrs. Watkins and her husband lived for their grandchildren. Mrs. Watkins would sit outside smiling and waving.
“When you would go around the corner, she would always speak, you would always see her children over visiting her great grandchildren,” a neigh- bor said.
The investigation into the shooting is continuing. Any- one with information is asked to contact the Tampa Police Department.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, the Tampa Po- lice Department collected more than 500 guns. Those participating in the anony- mous gun buy-back received $50 for each gun surrendered to police.
At the end of the day, police collected 213 revolvers, 125 pistols, 104 rifles, and 79 shot- guns. This year, police limited the guns purchased to those that were operable. Officers collected a total of 521 weapons.
Officers also accepted guns that were not operable from residents throughout the Tampa Bay area during the 2011 gun buy-back initiative.
The event took place at the River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird Street.
Since January 1st, Tampa Police officers have investi- gated more than 443 gun-re- lated crimes within the city limits. Some of those incidents
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
resulted in the deaths of near twenty individuals. Two of the victims were 14-year-olds.
This past weekend, several shootings took place within the city limits of Tampa. Two individuals died after being shot in separate incidents. Two other individuals sur- vived being struck by gunfire. Tampa Police detectives are currently investigating both deaths as homicides.
Prior to the event, both
TAMPA POLICE CHIEF ERIC WARD
Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward and Mayor Bob Buckhorn encouraged resi- dents to turn in guns that they no longer wanted.
The gun buy-back initiative was aimed at keeping deadly weapons out of the wrong hands. The gun buy-back ini- tiative is part of the Safe Sum- mer Program initiated by Mayor Buckhorn and Chief Ward.
One Man Killed In Motorcycle Accident
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports that one young man is dead and his friend was injured in an acci- dent Sunday.
According to reports, Geral- dine Bedford, 80, was driv- ing her vehicle north on Bruce B. Downs and was attempting a left turn into the University Plaza.
Kristopher Graham, 20, was traveling south on Bruce B. Downs on a Yamaha Motor- cycle with his friend, Antoine Jones, 21, right behind him.
A friend of Jones and Gra- ham, D-Andre Alexander, was behind them in his red Scion.
Deputies said Bedford turned into the path of Gra- ham, who tried to avoid the crash, but struck the passenger side of her vehicle. Jones, fol- lowing closely behind Gra- ham, struck his motorcycle.
Graham was pronounced
ANTOINE JONES .....suffered road burns in the accident.
dead at the scene. Jones lost control of his motorcycle caus- ing it to go down onto its side. Jones suffered road burns to his arms and legs. Their friend, Alexander, was not injured and ran over to render aid to his friends. Jones was hospi- talized with non-life threaten- ing injuries.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3