Tampa Police are investigating the early Wednesday morning shooting death of a 39-year-old man.

According to police, a homeowner at 4504 North 36th Street called 9-1-1 after he reportedly found Charles Daniels, Jr. dead in the driveway of his home. The homeowner told police he found Daniels when he returned to his home around 3 a. m.

According to Henry “Hollywood” Thomas, the victim’s cousin, Daniels was born in Marianna, Florida and adopted by his mother at the age of 4.

Thomas said Daniels really enjoyed sports, traveling and just hanging out with his friends. They both were athletes, and Daniels played football in high school.

Daniels had three daughters, a son, and a grandchild.[private]“He witnessed his mother’s murder, and that’s when my mom decided to adopt him and bring him to Tampa. His sister was also murdered, and those events left him with some deep psychological scars.

“Charles and I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club in Ybor City and we both attended New Friendship M. B. Church.”

Thomas said his cousin was a 1991 graduate of Tampa Bay Vo-Tech, and worked an array of odd jobs after graduating. He described Daniels as a “family man.”

“It’s sad that he was killed in the same neighborhood we grew up in,” said Thomas.

“I saw him last week, but he’d stop by my mom’s house every day.”

Of his cousin’s murder, Thomas said he knows Daniels stopped by the house where he was found shot to death, and that his car was still running when police arrived.

“When I got to the scene, I saw bullet holes in my cousin’s car and a car that belonged to the homeowner. Charles was found lying between two parked cars in the driveway of the home.”

Thomas said his cousins’ biological father, Charles Daniels, Sr., arrived in town Wednesday, and they have planned a service for his cousin this Saturday, 11 a. m. in the chapel at Aikens Funeral Home.

Police spokesperson, Laura McElroy, said they still haven’t determined if Daniels knew anyone at the residence where he was found.

“We still have a lot of unanswered questions. Detectives are conducting numerous interviews.”

Thomas said neighbors heard gunshots sometime between 1:30 a. m. and 2 a. m., but no one called police.[/private]