Page 36 - Florida Sentinel 11-20-15 Edition

Crime
Uncle Sandy
To give thanks in solitude 5, 12, 23, 36, is enough. Thanksgiving has wings 6, 25, 32, 38 and goes where it must go. 11, 14, 16, 18 Your prayer knows much more about it than you do. 1, 22, 56, 60
Murder Suspect Called Victim An ‘Easy Target’; Only Took $30
Deputies Search For Suspects Who Robbed Lutz Gas Station
On Tuesday, Tampa Police arrested a man and charged him with the murder of an elderly woman Saturday night.
On November 14, James Dixon (JD) went to check on his mother, Loretta Jackson, 78, at 1808 East Osborne Avenue, and found her on the floor unrespon- sive, cold to the touch, and bleeding from the head. He called police.
When officials arrived, Ms. Jackson was pro- nounced dead at the scene.
During their investiga- tion, police discovered the house had been forcibly en- tered and ransacked.
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner deter- mined Ms. Jackson had sustained a deep laceration to her forehead and had suf- fered multiple abrasions to her face and back.
Detectives said forensic evidence at the scene linked 24-year-old Jonathan Kendrick to the offense. A warrant was issued for his arrest on November 16th in reference to a separate felony battery charge.
After being mirandized, Kendrick allegedly said he targeted Ms. Jackson’s home because he thought it was an “easy lick,” street talk for an easy burglary. Kendrick reportedly said he kicked in the back door, and then he saw Ms. Jack- son come from somewhere inside the house. She report- edly asked, “Why are you in my house,” and Kendrick responded, “Where the money at?”
According to police, Ms. Jackson started to scream, and Kendrick punched her with his fist until she fell. Ms. Jackson then tried to stand up and Kendrick re- portedly picked up a vacuum cleaner and struck Ms. Jackson several times. He
Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for sus- pects in the robbery of a Lutz gas station Wednesday.
At 2:30 p.m., deputies said a man entered the Tail- gate Mart Shell Station, 25195 State Road 54 in Lutz.
The man arrived in a black 2006 to 2012 Chevro- let Impala that was driven by someone else. He is seen on
video jumping the counter, stealing money from the reg- ister, then fleeing back to the vehicle.
The suspect is described as a Black male, 18-to-25 years old, 6 feet tall, and last seen wearing a black base- ball cap grey tee shirt, tan khakis, and black and white sneakers. He also has a tat- too on his left forearm.
LORETTA JACKSON .....tried defending herself against her attacker.
told detectives during the struggle with Ms. Jackson, he put a pillow over her head, and that stopped her from screaming. He told de- tectives he checked to see if Ms. Jackson had a pulse, and said she did not.
After the attack, Kendrick took Ms. Jack- son’s EBT card, $20, her driver’s license and her cell phone. He then left the house, but returned hours later to get a bag he had left inside the house, police said.
Kendrick left Ms. Jack- son’s house and went to Aliana’s Meat Market, 4016 North 22nd Street. According to surveillance footage, he arrived at that store at 8:29 a. m. He was seen on video taking Ms. Jackson’s EBT card out and making a phone call. The video also showed Ms. Jackson’s driver’s li- cense inside his wallet.
Kendrick was shown photos of himself taken from the surveillance cameras at Aliana’s and identified him- self as the person in the pho- tos. He told detectives he sold Ms. Jackson’s EBT card to someone who was standing in line at the store for $10.
When officers were taking Kendrick into custody, he reportedly broke free and ran. An officer deployed his taser and Kendrick fell and hit his head. He was taken to
JONATHAN KENDRICK .....used a vacuum cleaner and a pillow to murder Ms. Jackson.
the hospital for treatment. He was charged with first-degree murder, armed burglary with battery, armed robbery, and dealing in stolen property. He is being
held without bond.
Of his mother, Dixon said
she was a great lady, and she never bothered anyone.
“She was the epitome of what a single parent should be. She not only raised me with respect, but made sure all of my friends were the same way. She was a mother toalotofkidsIgrewup with.
“I’d described my mother as a fighter and a lover. She was a caring person who never got into any kind of trouble, and I learned so much from her. She was dili- gent about everything, kept me on course with her knowledge, and I always lis- tened as a child when she tried telling me the right way.”
Dixon said his mother taught him to be fair with people, and when to be tough.
“She’d calm me down when I needed it, and she cared about everyone.”
Dixon said he did not know the man who attacked and killed his mother, and is pleased that police were able to capture him so quickly.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Deputy Shoots, Kills Man During Struggle
Second Man Arrested For Murder
MANATEE – Early Thurs- day, a Manatee County Sher- iff’s deputy shot and killed a man after he allegedly pulled a gun on deputies during a struggle.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie Store on the corner of 53rd Avenue, East and Nineth Street, East. After the shoot- ing, authorities said drugs were found at the scene.
According to the press re- lease, the man killed by the deputy was identified as Randy Allen Smith, 34.
Deputies said about mid- night, a suspicious vehicle was seen in the parking lot of the store, and the deputy waited for backup before approach- ing the vehicle. Deputies thought the vehicle was suspi- cious because it was parked in a side parking lot when all surrounding businesses were closed.
When other deputies ar- rived, two approached the ve- hicle and Smith reportedly got out of the front passenger door. Deputies said the told Smith to stop and put his hands in the air, but he ig- nored them and came at them in an aggressive manner.
The details of the struggle aren’t clear, but it was re- ported that the two deputies got into a fight with Smith after he approached them.
One of the deputies was re-
RANDY ALLEN SMITH
portedly struck in the head. Both used their tasers, but re- ported they were ineffective and Smith continued to re- sist them.
Deputies said Smith even- tually pulled out a gun and one of the deputies shot him. Smith was taken to the hospi- tal, but later died.
Deputies said a woman who was in the driver’s seat with Smith is being interviewed and is being cooperative.
Deputies said heroin and cocaine were found on Smith during the investigation, and they appeared to be packaged for sale.
Smith was out on bond for charges of possession of a controlled substance. He was originally arrested June 4th, bonded out, was arrested again for violation of pretrial release on June 30th and then bonded out again September 1st.
SHAQUILLE FELDER
Largo Police reported that they have arrested Shaquille Ali Felder, 22, who was being sought for the murder of 21- year-old McKinley Torbit.
Police said the murder oc- curred July 13, 2015 at 9:41 p.m.
FRANK FREEMAN
at the Tara Garden Apartments, 1630 Jefferson Avenue.
The investigation revealed that suspects tried to commit an armed home invasion to Tor- bit’s residence, but couldn’t get inside. They reportedly fired sev-
MCKINLEY TORBIT ... murder victim.
eral shots at Torbit, who exited his home during the incident.
Another man, Frank Free- man, 23, was arrested earlier for the shooting and has also been charged with first degree mur- der.
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