Florida Sentinel Bulletin

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Tampa Police are looking for three men after shot were reportedly fired into an apartment building Saturday evening.

At 3:35 p. m., police said a vehicle with three suspects drove by 1610 Nuccio Parkway, began firing shots toward the building. A Black male was o foot at 1602 Nuccio Parkway, and was reportedly seen by a witness exchanging gunfire with the occupants of the vehicle.

The vehicle fled the area, but was located later.

No arrests have been made, and police said they are looking for three Black males last seen riding in a White Dodge Charger, Florida tag #U83OWD.

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BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Dad Talks About His Son

Jeryl “Dr. Real Kill” Coleman said he can’t believe the image the media has painted of his son, Charlie Christopher Bates.

“I want to clear my son’s name. The rapes he is accused of didn’t happen.” He also denied that his son used or sold drugs, but acknowledged that he knew Chris had a gun.

Coleman said that he moved his son to Tampa on August 30^th. “He said he just wanted to come and stay with me. He was sleeping on the couch. He brought 4 white women to my house and I told him he was headed for trouble. This was 2 days before this happened and now my son is dead.”

Coleman said the owner of the car was one of the women who had come to his house. “He left with her and called me to say he was going to a party and would not be back that night.”

Coleman said his understanding is that his son became engaged in an altercation while at the party, pulled his gun, and fired one shot into the floor. “He was just trying to get away from there, I was told.

“My son wasn’t a bad person. He wasn’t a bad child, and didn’t have any mental problems. I’m trying to figure out where all of these stories are coming from.

“The day before all of this happened, we were playing in the yard and my neighbor talked about how close we were. I’m not trying to paint a pretty picture of him, he was a young man, he went to clubs, and he loved white women. He would defend himself if anyone bothered him, but he didn’t go around robbing people and it is hard for me to believe he went around raping people.”

Coleman said his son graduated from high school in Lakeland, where he lived with his mother. He had also been employed by Publix, but was laid off.

He remembers Chris used to go to church with his paternal grandmother, the late Mrs. Maude Williams. Coleman said Mrs. Williams died nearly two years ago and his son became depressed.

Day Of Shooting

Coleman said he didn’t speak to his son again. The following day, his sister called after hearing the news.

“I called the Tampa Police Department and they transferred me to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. I told them that if my son was holding someone hostage that I could talk to him.

“They told me that they would call me back and I never heard from them. I asked them to please call me because I didn’t want them to kill my son. The police still have not told me that my son is dead. I don’t know who they notified.”

He also disputes that his son attacked anyone on September 3^rd or September 5^th. Coleman said he was ill having undergone dialysis treatment and his son stayed home out of concern for him.

Coleman said Bates has a 5-year-old daughter that lives in Georgia. He is also survived by his mother, Ms. Lisa Bates, of Lakeland, several brothers and sisters, and other family members.

Needs Help With Funeral

Coleman, who is a popular DJ in Tampa, said “This is a really tough time for me. My stepfather, Finley Williams, of Lakeland, died the day before all of this happened. His funeral is going to be on Saturday. Now, I have to bury my son and I’m hoping the community will help.”

Anyone wishing to contact Coleman can reach him at (813) 650-5925. Odom Funeral Home of Lakeland will be in charge of handling arrangements.

BY GWEN HAYES

Sentinel Editor

Since she decided to return to college to complete her education, Mrs. Christine Li’Chele’ Moore has availed herself to a vast amount of information through research. She earned the Bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) in Human Services with concentration in Early Childhood from Springfield College in 2010. Two years later, she earned the Master’s degree (magna cum laude) also in Human Services with concentration in Mental Health, also from Springfield College.

She is currently in the Ph.D. program through Walden University, seeking a degree in Human Services with a specialization in Family Studies and Intervention Strategies. Her expected date of graduation is 2015.

“I am so excited to share some of the invaluable research that I have been doing on the family units,” she said.

With that in mind, she will be hosting an event on Saturday, September 28, 2013, 10 a. m.-12 noon at the Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center.

Entitled “Blending Families of Tampa Bay,” Mrs. Moore, who is also the author of “Blended Family Dilemmas: Are You Making It Or Breaking It?”, the event will share information on some steps for consideration before combining families; and she especially wants to focus on the dilemmas that are destroying the family unit.

Her invitation is open to the public and anyone wishing to contact her may call (813) 531-5380, or email blendmyfambs@yahoo.com.

Mrs. Moore has worked with youth and families over the years and is a Registered Licensed Mental Health Counselor.