Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 1-2-18

2017 Violent Deaths In Review
Police Solve More Than Half:
More Than 60 Lives Lost To Violence In 2017
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
During the calendar year 2017, law enforcement investi- gated 61 cases involving the vi- olent deaths of more than 60 victims within Hillsborough County. The deaths were inves- tigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office.
There were no violent deaths investigated by City of Temple Terrace Police Depart- ment or the Plant City Police Department.
Of the 61 cases investigated, 9 have been referred to the Hillsborough County State At- torney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed.
Thirty-five cases have been solved, with an additional 19 investigations continuing.
Anyone with information on the unsolved cases can con- tact the Tampa Police Depart- ment at (813) 231-6130; or the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
Callers who wish to be con- sidered for a reward of up to $3,000 can contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1- 800-873-TIPS; or www.crimestopperstb.com.
JANUARY
The case of Jayquon Johnson was the first case in- vestigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The 17- year-old athlete was killed on New Year’s Day. The admitted shooter, Cody Quinn, also a teenager, was not prosecuted for the death.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Harold Allen and charged him in connection with the death of his wife, Karen Allen. The murder took place on January 6th.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment investigated its first mur- der on January 14th. The body of William Denham, 53, was discovered near the intersec- tion of N. 15th Street and Elm Street. The case remains an ac- tive investigation.
Darrell Gadson, 38, was
arrested and charged with the murder of his cousin, Diquan Mills, 23, on January 23rd.
A passer-by discovered the body of Dontae Lampkins, 25, on January 26th in the alley between E. Comanche and E. Mohawk on January 26th. The case remains open.
On January 30th, James Beck was killed near the inter- section of 18th Street and 24th Avenue. Beck, 44, and his son had traveled from Holiday to sell a dirt bike he posted on Craig’s List.
Tampa Police detectives ar- rested two teenagers, Ramon- trae Williams, 16, and Dontae Johnson, 17, were charged with the murder.
FEBRUARY
Tampa Police are still look- ing for the person or persons responsible for the murder of 17-year-old Tee’On Milledge. He was killed on February 11th in Ybor City while attending the Gasparilla Night Parade.
MARCH
The murder of Thomas
Walker, III, 38, took place at the intersection of Libby Lane and Deerfield Lane. The Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation of the drive-by shooting on March 11th, that left Walker dead.
Elvin Joseph, 43, was shot on June 23, 2016, by an unidentified person last year while at 3523 N. 22nd Street. He died as a result of those injuries on March 3, 2017. His death re- mains an active investigation.
Jermaine McKinnley,
25, was charged with the mur- der of 8-month-old Zaynah Voss, who died on March 17th after being injured earlier in the month.
Tampa Police investigated the murder of Yamil Vega- Millan, which took place on March 18th, at 12th Avenue, South and MacKay Bay Trail. The case remains open.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigated a shooting that left William McCallister dead and his brother, David McCallister injured. Martin Alfred Johnson reportedly fired the fatal shots. The case was re- ferred to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office for a determination if charges will be filed.
Deputies with the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office re- sponded to 12015 N. Oregon on March 30th. They discovered the body of 23-year-old Jose Zarragoitia, whose body was found burning behind a vacant house. Sigfredo Espinel, 17, surrendered to police on April 6, 2017. He was charged with second-degree murder.
APRIL
Mike Franck, 34, of Talla- hassee, was outside a club in Tampa’s Soho District when he was struck by a bullet and died. Gary Rivera Montanez, 22, was charged with first-degree murder.
Ms. Shyeanne Lewis, 23, was murdered on April 23rd. Her former boyfriend, Hector
Acevedo, 24, was arrested and charged with her murder.
On April 23rd, Darius Jaquan Harris, 24, was killed in the 1900 block of W. Union Street. Tampa Police de- tectives arrested Zachary Williams and charged him with his murder.
Alex Noelssaint, 27, of Vero Beach, was shot on April 23rd at 1250 E. 113th Avenue. His death remains an unsolved homicide.
On April 27th, 39-year-old Curtis Thomas was shot and killed at the corner of E. 23rd Street and E. Lake Avenue. Michael Anthony Bridge- man, Jr., 29, of Tampa, was arrested on June 14th and charged with first-degree mur- der.
MAY
The murder of 18-year-old Aqkil Brooks remains under investigation by the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office. Brooks was in the 8200 block of Trammell Trail when he was shot by an unknown assailant on May 1st.
Deputies with the Hillsbor-
ough County Sheriff’s Office ar- rested Leopoldo Galarza- Espinosa and charged him with the murder of Santos Simiona Gonzalez Lopez. She died at her home at 3317 Willow Road on May 11th.
On May 15th, Katwon Jones, 23, was fatally stabbed while in the 8200 block of N. Alaska. No arrests have been made in the case.
Kadeem Archibald, 26, is being held at the Hillsbor- ough County Jail for the mur- der of Khando Kerr. Kerr, 37, died on May 16th while in the 1500 block of E. 128th Av- enue.
Monte Irvin, Jr., 27, was at 1504 E. Dr. M. L. King, Jr., Blvd., when he was fatally in- jured after being involved in an altercation. The case was re- ferred to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed.
Devon Arthurs, 18, was arrested and charged with the double murder of Jeremy Himmelman, and Andrew Oneschuck. The murders took place at 15350 Amberly Drive, on May 19th.
Joshua Leon Carmona,
19, was charged with first-de- gree murder. He is charged with killing his mother, Tahirih Lua D’Angelo, on her 39th birthday. The murder took place March 20th, at 6916 Hawthorne Trace Lane.
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