A Tampa neighborhood is getting no peace of mind following a fourth murder in the area. Tampa police say a 60-year-old man was shot and killed early Tuesday morning in Seminole Heights.
Police identified the victim as Ronald Felton of Tampa, an unemployed construction worker. Felton volunteered throughout the week at a food bank near the crime scene.
During a news conference at the site of the shooting, Police Chief Brian Dugan said reports of shots fired came in at 4:51 a.m. near Nebraska Avenue and E McBerry Street.
“It’s very unfortunate here that we’ve had another one,” Dugan said to the Tampa Bay Times. Authorities say they believe the shooting is connected to the shooting of three people in the area over a 10-day span last month.
Benjamin Mitchell, 22, became the first victim on Oct. 9. Two days later Monica Hoffa, 31, was gunned down and on Oct. 19, Anthony Naiboa, 20, was shot after he took the wrong bus home from his job. None of the victims were robbed.
“This has got to stop,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said at the new conference to the Tampa Bay Times. “We will hunt this person down until we find them.”
Following the murders, police released surveillance videos of a hooded suspect who is seen running from the scene moments after Mitchell (the first victim) was shot.
In the news release, police describe the suspect as a black male, 6-foot to 6-foot-2, a thin build and light complexion. The suspect is believed to be armed with a large black pistol and was last seen wearing all black clothes and a baseball cap.
Police say they believe the shooter lives in the neighborhood and are urging residents to stay indoors until the scene is cleared. Felton’s body was found in the road by N Nebraska Avenue, north of E Caracas Street.
