Clearwater Man Charged with Attempted Murder

Clearwater Police have charged Aaron Hoyte, 31, with attempted felony murder for the September 2012 shooting of Raul Torres. 

According to police, Hoyte was already an inmate in the Pinellas County Jail on unrelated drug charges.

On Sept. 30, 2012, two of Torres' friends took him to meet someone at the dead end near the 600 block of Grant Street. He was then shot around 11:03 p.m., according to investigators. 

"Detectives believe this may be drug-related," Elizabeth Watts, police spokeswoman, said in a release.

Torres was taken to the hospital with critical injuries but has since been released from the hospital, police said.

Hoyte was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine on Feb. 1.

Friday Hoyte was charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. 

His previous charges include: two counts of domestic battery, trespassing, sale of cocaine and multiple charges of possession of cocaine.  

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