On December 1 2009, Tampa Police were called to 2107 109th Avenue on a report of a disturbance concerning several Black males with bats and sticks.
When the officer arrived, he reported seeing no disturbance, but a witness said there was a person pointing a gun at her son. She led the officer to 15th Street and Heather Avenue where Derral Hamilton was sitting on the ground with a gunshot wound to his left calf.
The suspect in the shooting was identified as Derral’s cousin, Cuwissie Hamilton, and a witness reported that several shots were fired at Derral by his cousin, who fled the scene.
Derral Hamilton
A warrant was issued for his arrest on an aggravated battery with a firearm charge, and he was subsequently arrested February 2, 2010 on the warrant. He bonded out of jail 10 days later.
State Attorney’s Office spokesman, Mark Cox, said the [private]case was dismissed In June after witnesses disappeared, and the victim failed to make any statement about what happened to him.
2nd Incident
On December 13, 2010 at 10 p .m. Tampa Police were called on a report of a man shot at 8345 Nebraska Avenue, the Stop and Shop Store.
When officers arrived, they found Cuwissie Hamilton, 31, suffering from two gunshot wounds to the chest. Officers said Hamilton had been driven to that location from the actual shooting scene at 15th Street and Eskimo Avenue by an unknown person. He was hospitalized, and is reported to be in stable condition.
An investigation by detectives revealed that Cuwissie had been shot by his cousin, Derral, 25. Witnesses reported the two had been arguing, possibly over a woman and money, prior to the shooting.
Officers called Derral Hamilton and convinced him to turn himself in. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A family member who didn’t want to be identified, said “this is pure madness. I don’t understand how relatives could let anything cause them to hurt each other. I guess they didn’t learn a thing after the shooting last year.”[/private]
