Three weeks ago, the owner of Baker’s Mini Mart on Armenia Avenue, Taquanda Shanti Baker, 32, said she killed 16-year-old Quantavius Moore in self-defense.
Police now say that was a lie and the case has now turned into a murder investigation.
Baker is now is charged with filing a false police report, tampering/fabricating evidence and firing her weapon in an occupied dwelling to make it look like self-defense.
Tampa Police say Baker completely made up a story about shooting and killing 16-year-old Quantavius Moore, who goes by Antonio.
She said she shot Moore because he pulled a gun and was trying to rob the store, but police say her story did not match forensic evidence or witness statements.
After reviewing a surveillance video from a nearby business, police now say Baker was not even at the store when Moore was shot; she arrived nine minutes after the first 911 call.
Police also saw on the video a man, who is now a person of interest, walking away from the store. Detectives believe he has information on the shooting.
Tampa Police Chief Castor says Baker knows the person of interest but is not cooperating with detectives.
They beleive the man is known by Baker and that the two of them have a child in common.
Police say they found a second gun inside the mini-mart but they’re not sure if it was planted or if Moore was actually trying to rob the store.
Detectives are still trying to figure out a motive and determine exactly what happened inside the store at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 813-231-6030.
