Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 1-8-16 Edition

Crime News
Father Charged With Murder After Critically Injured Baby Dies
Authorities Continue To Search For Murder Suspects
A 23-year-old Tampa man who was originally charged with critically injuring his in- fant son is now facing first-de- gree murder charges. The two-month-old infant, identi- fied as Kent Hawkins John- son, Jr., was pronounced dead on January 2, 2016. His death was ruled a homicide after police received the cause of death from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office on January 4th.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, Kent Hawkins Johnson, Sr., was arrested on December 29th and charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse. He was being held at the Hillsborough County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
However, on Monday after- noon, Johnson’s bond was rescinded and the additional charge of first-degree murder and child neglect with great bodily harm were added. He is currently being held without bond.
A spokesman for the Hills-
KENT HAWKINS JOHNSON, SR.
borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice said the infant was brought to a local hospital with severe injuries on December 28th. A physician at the hospital deter- mined that the baby suffered a fractured skull and several fractures to his ribs and leg.
The hospital physician also determined that the infant’s skull fracture had taken place within the past 24 hours. How- ever, the fractures to his body had occurred 7 to 10 days ear-
lier.
During the investigation,
police determined that Kent Hawkins Johnson, Sr., was the infant’s sole caretaker when he was injured.
According to the arrest af- fidavit, Johnson was read his Miranda warning and gave the following account of how the infant sustained the injuries:
“The defendant (John- son) advised he held the baby over his head with the baby on his shoulders and spun him in circles. The defendant (John- son) advised he fell and the baby fell on the tile floor and advised the baby cried for ap- proximately 30 minutes.
“The defendant (John- son) subsequently picked the child up, off of the floor by the leg.
“The defendant (John- son) advised the fractured ribs and leg were likely a result of that incident. The defendant also advised he intentionally struck the baby on his head on 12/27/15 after the baby was crying.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to search for two people in con- nection with the murder of Ty- saiah Christopher Williams Donaldson, 19.
Detectives said a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Kaliyah Ronell-Marquee Everett, 17, on charges of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On Thursday, December 31st, deputies received a 9-1-1 call about a shooting at the Oak Bend Apartment Complex. When they arrived, they found Donaldson suffering from a gunshot wound. He was trans- ported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that at least two Black males were seen leaving the area after the shooting. Everett was identified as one of the sus- pects, and the second suspect
has not been identified.
Crime Stoppers is offering a
reward of up to $3,000 for in- formation that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspects in this case.
Anyone with information regarding this case and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call 1-800- 873-8477.
Pedestrian Injured In Crash At Nebraska And Sligh Avenues
On last Friday, Tampa Po- lice were working a traffic crash at Nebraska and Sligh Avenues involving a pedes- trian being struck.
Police said officers were called to Nebraska Avenue just south of Sligh and were told Jerome Parker, 48, was walking across Nebraska Avenue when a vehicle driven by Jeremiah Tinsley, 28, struck him in the roadway.
Tinsley told police he did not see Parker when the ac- cident occurred.
Parker was transported to a local hospital and is re- ported to be critical, but sta-
JEROME PARKER .....in hospital in critical but stable condition.
ble condition.
The investigation is ongo-
ing into the accident.
KALIYAH RONNELL-
MARQUEE EVERETT .....warrant issued for his ar- rest for murder and other charges.
Polk County Triple Homicide Described As Horrific
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into a triple murder investiga- tion at 2314 East Magnolia Drive, Lot 2, in Lakeland. A fourth victim was hospitalized.
At 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting there had been a shooting at the East Magnolia residence.
Deputies responded and found three shooting victims; one Hispanic female, one white male and one Black male deceased. The fourth victim, a Hispanic male, was shot in the face and hospitalized. He was identified as 18-year-old Felix Campos.
Killed in the triple homi- cide were David Washing- ton, 24, Eneida Branch, 31, and Angelica Guadalupe Castro, 23.
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, the victims had
DAVID WASHINGTON .....murder victim
all been shot multiple times in the face, and the scene was de- scribed as being a “slaughter.”
Sheriff Judd also said the preliminary investigation has shown the house is known as a one-stop-shop for drugs, such as marijuana, pills, heroin, and cocaine.
Drugs, money, and other items were taken from the home, according to detectives.
ENEIDA BRANCH .....murder victim
Detectives are asking for help in the investigation and ask anyone with information to al (863) 298-6200.
Detectives have not identi- fied any suspects in the shoot- ings, and are seeking anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
Detectives are also hoping Campos will recover and help them with the investigation.
Whispers Singer, Nicholas Caldwell Dead At 71
Caldwell, co-founder and singer with the Cali- fornia R&B group The Whispers, has died. He was 71. Willette Ballard, a representative for the group, said Cald- well died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his San Francisco
home.
Formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1963, Caldwell was
an original member of the group that included brothers Walter and Wallace Scott, Marcus Hutson and Gordy Harmon. Their first top 10 R&B hit was in 1970 with “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong.” Their first album to go platinum was “The Whispers” in 1980. It included the disco hit, “And The Beat Goes On.”
Uncle Sandy says...
Nobody can give you freedom. 4, 17, 23, 28 No- body can give you equal- ity 3, 30, 33, 40 or justice or anything. 7, 44, 50, 55 If you're a man, you take it. 9, 49, 51, 60.
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