On Saturday, Tampa Police got a tip that led to the arrest of a teen who had been sought in the June shooting of a 21-year year-old man. He was charged with first-degree murder.
According to police, the murder charge filed against David Irvin, 18, stems from an incident that took place on June 9th, at the intersection of N. 13th Street and E. Yukon. Police said Irvin and Edward Howard, Jr., became engaged in a physical altercation.
Irvin is alleged to have intentionally shot Howard. When police responded to the scene on June 9th, they discovered Howard, who had just celebrated his birthday the day before, lying on the sidewalk. He died of his injuries.
After the shooting, Irvin fled the scene. The Tampa Police Department launched an extensive investigation into the murder. Information gathered led police to a residence in the 10900 block of Annette Street.
Police made contact with the residents of the home and Irvin surrendered to the officers without incident.
Shortly after the shooting, Howard’s mother, Ms. Dolly Foster, gave an interview to a Sentinel reporter.
During the interview, Ms. Foster said Howard, who was known as “Jizzel,” had plans of returning to school and opening his own music company. He had celebrated his 21st birthday on June 8th.
“He was so excited about his birthday coming up. … I didn’t see him on his birthday, but he called and said he was getting a ride home. He never got the chance.
“He spent the night with a friend and something happened over there.
“What we were told is that a gang of boys tried to beat him up, and he got the best of them. He had walked to a store, and was on his way back when he noticed two cars following him. Inside the car was one of the guys he had fought. At Yukon and 13th, they caught up with him and the guy got out of the car and shot him. We don’t know the boy who shot him, and had never seen him before.”
A Tampa native, Howard was raised in the Sulphur Springs area.
Shortly after the shooting, Irvin’s mother, Ms. Artese Harden, was also interviewed by the Sentinel. During that interview she said, “I want the young lady who started all of this to go to jail. She lured my son away from his home, and got him involved in the confusion that was going on at her place.”
Ms. Harden also said at the time that the two young men had been “feuding” for the past three months. However, they had not had a physical confrontation until the day of the shooting.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office website, Irvin is being held without bond. In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Irvin was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He was also charged with violation of probation on several unrelated charges.
Victim’s Mother Wants Female ‘Troublemaker’ Punished
BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Ms. Dolly Foster said she holds no hard feelings against 18-year-old David Irvin. Irvin was arrested Saturday and charged with the murder of her son, Edward Howard, Jr.
EDWARD HOWARD, JR.
Ms. Foster said she is glad that he has been arrested, but she feels he is not totally responsible for her son’s death. She has heard the same rumors that that Ms. Artese Harden, mother of the suspect, David Irvin spoke about during an interview with the Sentinel when the shooting happened.
“While my baby was laying there covered up with a sheet, I kept hearing rumors of what happened.
“My son had spent the night with a friend and from what I’m told the friend and this girl got into it. She had used mace on him and was about to stab him with a knife when my son stopped her and took the friend to his grandmother’s house.
“This girl then called this boy who shot my son. She is a troublemaker. I was told that she woke him up. After they fought, he (Irvin) should have left well enough alone. Kids fight all the time, but he didn’t have to kill my baby. But, he is not totally to blame and this girl should be punished, too.”
“We don’t know what she told this boy. He didn’t have to take my son’s life. But, if he had just checked to find out what was going on, he wouldn’t have shot my son. She needs to go down. She is just as responsible as the boy who shot him. If it wasn’t for her, my baby would be alive today.”
“My son lost his life trying to save someone else. That is kind of messed up,” Ms. Foster said.
She further stated that the grandmother of the young man maced tried to tell the police what happened at the scene, but they didn’t listen to her.
Ms. Foster further stated that the young man who her son reportedly saved is having to deal with guilt. “He came up to me at the wake and he was crying. He feels so bad because my son is dead.”
