Cops hunt possible serial killer after new shooting
TAMPA: It had been about a month since the deaths of three people in Tampa, Florida, stoked fears that a serial killer was targeting the neighbourhood of Seminole Heights.
But just when it seemed as if the violence had ended, another person was shot to death on Tuesday morning in the same area.
“This has got to stop, and we will hunt this person down until we find them,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn of Tampa said at a news conference.
Ronald Felton, 60, was killed in southeast Seminole Heights, less than a kilometre from where Monica Hoffa, 32, was shot on Oct 11, Stephen Hegarty, a police spokesman, said. Two other victims, also shot in October, died nearby.
Witnesses told the police that Felton was crossing the street to meet someone when he was shot from behind near North Nebraska and East Wilder avenues.
Officers arrived at 4.51am local time, within seconds of receiving a call that shots had been fired, the police said.
“We are proceeding with the assumption that it’s related to the others,” Mr Hegarty said. “But there is also no clear motive.”
Felton, like the other three victims, was shot in the dark, while walking alone.
He was gunned down near New Season Apostolic Ministries, where he helped feed the homeless on Tuesdays and Thursdays, reported WFLA, an NBC affiliate.
“The family is just torn,” Felton’s brother, James, told the station. “My family is taking it real hard.”
The shooter was described as a black man, about 180cm tall, with a thin build and light complexion.
He was said to be armed with a large black pistol and last seen wearing all black clothing.
“I believe that this person lives in this neighbourhood,” Tampa’s interim police chief, Brian Dugan, said at the news conference.
“We are systematically searching the neighbourhood, going through yards, we’ll be knocking on doors, searching houses, that kind of thing, and we need people to cooperate with us.”
None of the victims were robbed. And police have not uncovered any information indicating that the victims had recently argued with someone or were involved in criminal activity.
It is possible that the weapon used by the gunman was stolen, Mr Hegarty said.
“If you own a gun and you think you know where it is, check to make sure it’s there,” he said.