BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
A teenager accused of murder has been charged as an adult. The case went before the Hillsborough County Grand Jury on Thursday.
The Grand Jury indicted Larry Donell Brown, 16, on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 38-year-old Michael Valentin. Last Friday afternoon, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office moved Brown from the Juvenile Detention Center to the Hillsborough County Jail.
According t0 the Tampa Police Department, the 21st murder in the City of Tampa took place when Critical Intervention Services (CIS) Security Guard Michael Valentin died during an attempted robbery. Police believe Brown was attempting to take Valentin’s handgun. However, he fled the scene after the shooting without taking the gun. The murder took place at the Grand Oaks Apartments Complex, 2402 E. Hanna Avenue.
The murder took place shortly after 7:30 p. m., Thanksgiving Eve. Valentin was employed as an armed CIS Security Guard for the complex. Valentin was shot in the upper body. When police arrived, they discovered Valentin’s body. His firearm was still in the holster. Valentin, who was married and the father of two children, was working an extra shift that night.
The shooter left his bicycle behind as he fled the scene. Investigators were able to develop a positive DNA match from the bicycle.
Brown was reportedly visiting a female acquaintance who lives in the apartment complex on the night of the shooting. He was arrested a week after the shooting.
Brown has a criminal record that began when he was 10-years-old. He has been arrested more than 36 times during the last 6 years.
In addition to the first-degree murder charge, the Grand Jury indicted Brown on charges of attempted robbery, grand theft of a firearm, two counts of robbery, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
