Florida Sentinel Bulletin

The 2011 year started off with great promise, as no African Americans were murdered during the first three months. However, Sabrina Broxton became the first African American homicide of 2011.

Below is a month-by-month recap of the murders of African Americans in Tampa and Hillsborough County.

Of the 23 murders of African Americans in 2011 attributed to violence, 15 of the cases were solved with the arrest of the person or persons responsible.

Overall in Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa, there were 35 homicides.

JANUARY 2011

On January 12, 2011, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested William Henry Sanders for the 2001 murder of Sabrina Hayes.

APRIL 2011

SABRINA BROXTON (Pictured, right)

On April 3, 2011, Sabrina Broxton became the first African American homicide victim of the year.
Broxton 24, was standing in front of a house in Carver City when she intervened in a dispute between her boyfriend and Antonio King. Police said King and Broxton started fighting, the fight was broken up, and King went into his house, returned with a handgun, and fired into a crowd of people, striking Broxton.
King was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Courtney Yates

On April 9, 2011, Courtney Yates, 32, begged for his life before Jontavis Williams, 23, shot him three times.
Williams turned himself in for the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder.

On April 13, 2011, Nakysha Hamilton, 23, and her boyfriend, Leon Stevenson, Jr., were arguing over bills when Stevenson reportedly struck Hamilton and threw her to the floor. Stevenson later told police he woke up later and notice Hamilton was not moving and gasping for air. He put her in his car, drove to her mother’s house, and left her outside where she was found dead.
Police charged Stevenson with second-degree murder.

MAY 2011

On May 8th, Walter “JJ” Revear was shot to death as he tried to break up a fight at the Interstate Lounge.
Revear, 28, was at the lounge with his sister and other family members and friends when the shooting occurred.
Jimmy Lee Cruz, 33, was later arrested and charged in the shooting.

On May 18th, Damarcus Kirklalnd-Williams, 21, was charged with the death of 13-month-old Ezekiel Mathis.
Kirkland-Williams told police he was angry with the child’s mother and intended to throw the toddler onto the bed. However, the child’s stomach struck a dresser.

JUNE 2011

On June 1st, Charles Daniels, Jr., 39, was found shot to death in the driveway of his home.
Daniels was the father of four children. No arrests have been made in his murder.

During the early morning hours of June 5th, Kiara Brito, 16, and her brother, Jeremi Brito, 13, were shot to death in their South Tampa home during a home invasion.
Charles Waits, 19, and Tavari Grant, 18, were charged with first-degree murder in the shootings.

JULY 2011

Nicole Rene Williams

On the 4th of July, Egan Fernando Atkins was charged with stabbing his ex-wife to death, Nicole Rene Williams, as she slept.
Police said Atkins broke into the home through a window, armed himself with a kitchen knife, and stabbed Williams.

On July 9th, police arrested Ayana Brown, 21, and charged her with the murder of James “Pops” Frazier, 83.
Frazier was found dead in a room at the Haven Motel on Nebraska Avenue.

On July 30th, Iesha Washington, 18, and Craig Thompson, 22 were shot to death as they were attending a party.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that a fight broke out during the party, and bullets starting flying.
Tyrell Bragg, 21 was charged with the murder of Washington. No arrest has been made in the shooting death of Thompson.[private]

SEPTEMBER 2011

On Monday, September 19th, it was announced that Ms. Tina Toney Lark, 44, and a day care operator, had been arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Police said the parents of De’Arron Deshazier left him in the care of Ms. Lark at her home daycare on August 1st.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a child being unresponsive and not breathing. The child was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

OCTOBER 2011

On October 2nd, Club Empire in Ybor City was closing and patrons were leaving when an unknown gunman fatally shot Leslie Jerome Jones, Jr., 20, and wounded Ahmaud Black, 19.
The shootings caused an outrage among the citizens of Tampa who picketed in front of the club, demanding it be shut down.
The owner of the club did permanently close the club a few weeks later, saying attendance had fallen off.
No arrests have been made in the shootings.

On October 12th, the owner of Sam’s Food Mart went into the store and found his clerk and sister-in-law, Marilyn Tejada, 53, on the floor with a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead the next day.
No arrests have been made in her shooting.

On October 29th, John Singleton, Jr. and a friend went to a birthday party at the Unique Island Grill on 34th Street and Lake Avenue.
Tampa Police said there were about 60 people inside the building for the party when a fight started. Several people were ejected from the party, but police said the fight continued outside.
When Singleton went outside where the fight was occurring, he was shot. The 17-year-old Tampa Bay Vo-Tech junior died later at a local hospital.
No arrests have been made in the shooting at this time.

NOVEMBER 2011

On November 6th, Jamarie Lavon Hodges,16, left the comfort of his home on East Ellicott Street, and went outside to help a friend who was involved in a fight.
Police said as Hodges was trying to help his friend, someone fired several shots from a handgun, killing him.
Police later arrested Jose Torres-Melvin, 19, on a charge of first-degree murder.

On November 9th, Tampa Police got a call of a domestic dispute in the 300 block of East Woodlawn.
When officers arrived, they found Charon Shaw, 39, shot. He was transported to a local hospital with nine gunshot wounds, and was pronounced dead.
Police said Damien Townes fired the fatal shots, and he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
According to reports, Leah Waring called 9-1-1 to report that she and Shaw were involved in a domestic incident. Waring told police Shaw was her former boyfriend.  Townes was identified as Waring’s current boyfriend.

On November 12th, Plant City Police arrested 18-year-old Abel C. Dimas and charged him with the murder of 51-year-old Laronia Bowers, and the attempted murder of 59-year-old Edward Mincey.
Dimas was arrested during a traffic stop, and police said he was the passenger inside of a vehicle that matched an SUV seen leaving the area after the shootings. Police also arrested Javier Castillo.
Later that same evening, Plant City Police were called to 506 East Ohio Street. When they arrived, they entered the residence and found the bodies of a man and woman who appeared to have suffered fatal injuries.
The victims were later identified as Faye Kitchen, 50, and Shannon Thomas, 33. No arrests have been made for the shootings.[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

During the last three months of 2011, a record number of African Americans suffered violent deaths. In November, following the deaths of two teenagers, a group of citizens came together to address the issue.

During that meeting, information was gathered for dissemination to members of the community. On Thursday, January 5th, the Second Stop The Gang and Gun Violence Task Force Meeting will take place. The meeting will be held at the Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, corner of N. 22nd Street and E. 26th Avenue, at 6 p.m.

Ernest Coney, Jr., Interim CEO of the CDC, Inc., who organized the task force said the agenda consists of a summary of strategies from the initial focus groups; an update from previous events that took place between October and December; an update on events planned for January and February; the creation of Working Committees and the Next Steps.

Coney is asking the community to attend the meeting and discuss methods of saving our youth and stopping the violence.

For additional information contact Ms. Karen Daley at (813) 526-5929; or email Coney at ernestconey@cdcoftampa.org.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Ron “Jomama Johnson” Shepard has meant more to the broadcast industry than anyone else over the past 23 years. He is responsible for creating an awareness of Clear Channel Broadcasting that hadn’t been done before.

On December 20th, Jomama Johnson officially retired as the Program Manager and Promoter for Clear Channel Radio.

“I’ve had a lot of enjoyable experiences over the years,” said Jomama.

“This is an ever-learning industry, so there’s always something out there to pick up on and use.”

Jomama said his profession afforded him the opportunity to meet super stars, and bring those personalities close to his listening audience.

Jomama said he’ll return to radio, but for now, he’s going to take care of his mother in Lake Wales.

As far as the industry is concerned, Jomama said it’s very competitive.“This is an ego-driven industry that also has a lot of politics connected to it. I understand it’s part of the job, even though it can be difficult at times.”

As far as his on-air persona is concerned, Jomama said he’s learned if you’re not about nothing, then no one is about you. “No one will hire Ron Shepard to do any promotions, but they will hire Jomama Johnson. Right now, life is a mental challenge, and I’m prepared to be Ron Shepard instead of Jomama. The love of my family is all that matters right now.”

Jomama said as far as Clear Channel is concerned, he knows he left a huge footprint behind. “I started out there as an intern and now I’ve done every job in radio. I am responsible for creating 95.7 The Beat, and getting out there and promoting the station.”

Jomama said getting into radio was always a dream of his, and he can’t think of anything else he’d rather do. “Now that I’m retired, I will do whatever I have to do.”

Of the 23 years Jomama has been in the industry, 19 of them were in Tampa at Clear Channel.

Jomama’s wife, Prophetess B. Shepard, was the host of Sunday Morning Glory, a gospel show, and also has left the station. “Now, we both will be starting over,” said Jomama.

ST. PETERSBURG – On Tuesday, St. Petersburg Police charged a 19-year-old man with repeatedly raping an 11-year-old boy in the weeks before Christmas.

Mark Anthony Thompson was arrested and charged with sexual battery of a child less than 12 years old.

Police said the victim was spending afternoons with a relative while his mother worked. Thompson was reportedly staying with the same relative.

Police said Thompson began sexually battering the child on November 25th, and the abuse continued through December. The child’s mother, suspecting something was wrong, started asking questions. She questioned her child December 20th at the relative’s house.

Police said as the child told his mother Thompson had shared marijuana with him, Thompson went into a bedroom, locked the door, changed clothes, and escaped out of a window.

After the child told his mother about the alleged assault, she took him to a hospital to be examined and called police.

Acting on a tip from the child’s mother, Thompson was arrested sitting in his car in the parking lot of the Lake Vista Recreation Center. He is being held under a bond of $50,000, and a judge has ordered him to have no contact with the victim.

Last Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced a man to life in prison for the deaths of two homeless men. The men were beaten to death in September 1998.

U. S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich sentenced James Robertson, 32, to life in federal prison. He was found guilty of two counts of murder in aid of racketeering by a jury on October 18th.

Robertson’s three co-defendants, Kenneth Hoover, Charles Marovskis, and Cory Hulse, all entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.

Alfred Williams

The two attacks took place during the early morning hours of September 13, 1998, in different locations.

According to testimony during the trial, Robertson was a member of a Skinheads hate group known as “Tampa Blood And Honour.” The organization believe that white people of Aryan descent are the superior race. It also considered homeless people, regardless of race, to be inferior.

Police said that during the early morning hours of September 13, 1998, Robertson, and his co-defendants, Hoover, 38; Marovskis, 32; and Hulse, 38, participated in what they referred to as “bum rolling,” an act of targeting and committing acts of violence against homeless people.

The men encountered Alfred Williams, 61, in downtown Tampa, under the Crosstown Expressway. The defendants attacked Williams and beat him to death with several objects including a tire iron.

Richard Arseneau

Later in the evening, the group encountered Richard Arseneau, 44, in a vacant lot near Interstate 275 and E. Fletcher Avenue. Arseneau was attacked and beaten with a hatchet. Both men died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Court documents said another homeless man was also attacked at Interstate 275 at Bird Street, near the Hillsborough River. He was beaten over the head with what is believed to be a cinder block. The victim sustained severe lacerations, but was able to escape by jumping into the river.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

On November 21, 2011, Wathson Adelson was driving south on Manhattan Boulevard near Waters when he encountered Alcisviades Polanco, who was driving in the same direction.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Adelson sped around Polanco’s vehicle then came to a stop in the roadway blocking Polanco’s vehicle.

Deputies said both men got out of their cars, exchanged words, and at some point, Polanco armed himself with a weapon, and stabbed Adelson in the head and shoulder area. Adelson was hospitalized and eventually died from his wounds.

An investigation was initiated, and Polanco claimed he was defending himself and used the “Stand Your Ground” law as a defense.

On Monday, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office released a statement, saying they had completed their review of the incident and no charges will be filed against Polanco as “the evidence is insufficient to rebut Polanco’s claim of self defense.

Adelson’s uncle, James Medard, said the family is angry over the decision, and plans to take action.

“I’m personally investigating the case based on what witnesses said and it makes no sense. I don’t see how this could be self defense when Wathson was sitting in his car when he was stabbed. What kind of threat could he have represented to that man sitting in his car?”

Medard said the family is going to hire an attorney to appeal the decision that this was self defense.

“Too many people stand behind this law when something like this happens and in this case, the facts don’t justify that,” said Medard.

“My nephew was never threatening to this man, and from what we’ve been told, Polanco got out of his car and approached Wathson and attacked him. He never had a chance to protect  himself.”

Medard said the family wants the incident heard in a court system that will see all the facts.

“Right now, it seems someone took Polanco’s story and just ran with it. We feel this has racial overtones and when I get back to Miami, I will sit down with my pastor, who is president of the NAACP chapter there.”

Medard said the family is planning a candlelight vigil for Wathson, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this case doesn’t disappear.

“They have opened a can of worms and now they are going to have to deal with it.”

LEON CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

For fear of retaliation, Catrina and Felicia don’t want their last names used, but both women said there is a growing problem in their community with gang violence.

“The problem is there is a gang in Progress Village that has an ongoing feud with kids in Clair-Mel, and things have gotten really violent lately,” said the two women.

One particular incident both women point to occurred three weeks ago at the Red Lobster Restaurant in Brandon.

According to Catrina, her son was waiting along with a friend to be seated when a group of young men from Progress Village walked in.

“They walked past my son and his friend, then turned around and attacked them for no reason,” said Catrina.

“There were about five young men involved, and the personnel at the restaurant did nothing to stop it. Deputies were called, and came to see what was going on.”

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the restaurant about a disturbance, but when they arrived, nothing was going on and no report was taken.

Catrina said her son had to be hospitalized, and his friend was also treated at the hospital.

“Most of the boys involved in this are juveniles, so they don’t really get punished,” said Catrina. “We’re afraid this will escalate into something that will cost someone their life, and that’s so stupid. Someone has to get these kids under control before they get hurt, or hurt someone else.”

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit said they haven’t identified any known gangs in that area, but are aware of small groups of teenagers causing problems.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Every year, entertainer Shawn Brown hosts one of the biggest holiday events in the area. But, Brown will be the first to tell you, he feels blessed to be able to do this every year.

Brown has been a professional musician for more than 30 years, and has toured all over the world. He has opened for acts like Howard Hewitt, Roger & Zapp, Stephanie Mills, Al Green, Clarence Clemons, Christopher Cross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Keith Sweat, Ronnie Earl, and many others.

“Although I’ve enjoyed some success, and have been able to share that success with others, I learned long ago to not take life for granted, because it isn’t guaranteed to anyone.”

Between the months of November 2008 and April 2010, Brown entered one of the biggest battles of his life when he was diagnosed with cancer. He had already lost a brother to the disease, and was determined to beat it.

“I was blessed by God to get through that, but that aroused my dream to use my talent and music to help people who suffer from cancer. My New Year’s Eve gala is my way of partnering with organizations that work hard to save the lives of people suffering from cancer,” said Brown.

Brown partnered with the Gulfcoast Oncology Foundation in April 2011, and is looking to bring in even more organizations that deal directly with cancer sufferers.

“I want to enjoy every moment I have, because I don’t know when it will all end,” said Brown.

“I want to make a difference while I’m here, and maybe leave something behind where whoever follows me will pick up where left off.”

Police arrested three teenagers last Thursday after they learned of a plot to shoot a high school student. The teenagers were arrested after deputies conducted a traffic stop and found guns in the vehicle.

According to police, the School Resource Officer at King High School learned that the teenagers inside the vehicle were allegedly going to shoot a student. The shooting was supposed to take away from the school.

Marquez Oquendo

After learning about the alleged plot, Hillsborough County deputies stopped the white 2003 Hyundai shortly after 2 p.m. Deputies reportedly found two weapons in the car during a search. A .22 caliber handgun was located on the backseat and a .38 caliber Rossi handgun was found under the front passenger’s seat, police said.

Police arrested 19-year-old Darius Anthony Funches, Marquez D-Magio Oquendo, 18, and a 15-year-old juvenile, who was booked at the Juvenile Assessment Center.

A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said they don’t have any additional information because all three were uncooperative. She said Oquendo is a senior at King High School.

Funches and Oquendo were booked at the Hillsborough County Jail. Funches posed a $10,000 bond and Oquendo posed a $2,000 bond, jail records showed.