For the second time in less than a week, a shooting has left a young man dead in East Tampa.
Tampa Police report on Tuesday night at 9 p. m., Dexter Gardner, 26, Thomas Causey, 41, and Bertran Sampson, 26, were hanging out in the courtyard of Causey’s apartment on 22nd Avenue near 29th Street.
Police said a group of men walked up to the three men, and opened fire. The suspects then fled to a car parked nearby.
The suspect vehicle, a gold 2001 Dodge Intrepid, was found by patrol officers shortly after the shooting at 11th Avenue and 27th Street. It had been reported stolen from an apartment complex in the county several days before the shootings. It is being processed at this time.
When officers arrived, they found Gardner dead and Causey with serious injuries. A short time later, officers learned Sampson was also shot, but had fled to his home.
Detectives said the shooting was not random, and only one of the three victims was the intended target.
Pastor Calls On Community Leaders To Save Youth
BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
In response to an epidemic of gun violence, a Tampa minister is calling on leaders to help save the youth. He has scheduled a meeting Monday, February 25th, 7 p.m., at Exciting Alive Church, 5705 E. 32nd Avenue, Tampa, 33619, in Grant Park.
Pastor Antonio Hawkins said, “I’m calling on all of the leaders in the community: pastors, teachers, principals, law enforcement, parents, evangelists, activists, community leaders, everyone with an interest in our children to attend this meeting.
“We want to start a movement and we are calling this movement ‘The Saving Our Youth Revival.’ The last young man who was killed was from Grant Park and there have been many others. Tuesday night, another young man died and a second was seriously injured.
“My heart is hurting and we are losing our young people far too often. It is going to take all of us working together to save them. We can’t depend on the government to do it, we can’t depend on law enforcement, we all have a part to play.
“This is about reaching our kids. We’re not talking about the ones who come to church, we are talking about the ones who don’t. If they are not coming to us, then we must find a way to go to them.
“I am asking everyone who thinks he or she is a leader who wants to make a difference to attend this meeting. We have got to do something and do something quickly. It will only last about an hour and a half,” the 28-year-old pastor said.
He further stated that his plan is to have a mobile event that will visit each community one day a week. The mobile event is still in the planning stages, but will be discussed in greater detail at the meeting.
“We want people to see the global picture that the church cares. We want people to see that we want to make sure the professionals of tomorrow are there and ready when the time comes for them to walk into their purpose as doctors, nurses, scientists, etc.”
Anyone wishing to contact Pastor Hawkins can reach him at (813) 280-9861.
