Seminole Heights Shootings: Tampa Mayor Vows Police To Stay In Neighborhood Until Gunman Captured

TAMPA, FL - Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn vowed to a packed auditorium of Seminole Heights residents that city police would not leave the area until a gunman responsible for three deaths is captured. “We will hunt this son of a b---- down until we find him,” Buckhorn said to thunderous applause.

The Seminole Heights neighborhood has been on edge since three people were shot and killed within a mile of each other. Police say they have no motive and the victims did not know each other, but authorities consider the shootings to be related.

Police have declined to use the term serial killer, saying they are not sure if the shootings were committed by one person.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Buckhorn said police are no closer to finding a suspect despite an investigation that began on Oct. 9. He said police "don't have a lot to work with right now."

"This is an unusual case," the mayor said. "There is no rhyme or reason other than folks being in the wrong place at the wrong time, in the wrong neighborhood.

"But we will catch him. This person will make a mistake," Buckhorn said Tuesday.

City officials held a meeting Monday night at Edison Elementary School to provide answers about efforts to solve the shootings and soothe any concerns of residents.

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Watch: Florida Residents Fear Serial Killer After 3 Killings

In answer to an audience question, interim Police Chief Brian Dugan said the shootings were not gang-related. Though police say they have been receiving tips, Dugan said they have no information about race, gender, height, or age of a suspect.

"We don’t know if it’s one person or many. We will find this person doing this, and we will prosecute them,"he said.

Dugan added: "There is a very good likelihood that someone in this room knows who is doing this."

Anthony Naiboa, the latest victim, was a 20-year-old Middleton High School graduate who was shot and killed on a sidewalk at N 15th and E. Conover streets on Thursday. Prior to Naiboa's death, 22-year-old Benjamin Edward Mitchell and 32-year-old Monica Hoffa were found shot to death. Mitchell died on Oct. 9 and Hoffa’s body was found on Oct. 13. The shootings occurred within an 11-day period.

The one bit of evidence police have released is a surveillance video of a thin person wearing a hood walking along a neighborhood street at the time of the first shooting on Oct. 9. The person, who appears to be a man, has not been called a suspect, but police have said they want to speak with him. The video can be viewed here.

Police say they brought in two people who they believed might be the person in the video. They were questioned and later released.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence for the victims. Then Buckhorn launched into a fiery speech, telling the crowd “we are not leaving until we catch this guy.”

"We will not let evil win this. We will not be held hostage. This is our house. Evil will not win. Not now, not ever!" Buckhorn said.

Buckhorn said that for Tampa police, “this is personal.” After uttering his expletive in the Edison school auditorium, Buckhorn joked: "I may not be allowed back in this elementary (school)."

Police have saturated the area in recent days, looking for clues and talking with residents. “You can’t get five feet out there without seeing a police car,” the mayor said.

Buckhorn said he was proud of the community’s response to the shootings. Residents have marched in the streets, vowing not to be afraid.

“We need you to turn those lights on. We need you to be visible. We need you to tell us what you see,” the mayor said.

The community meeting ended with a prayer.

“Goodness is going to win,” Buckhorn said.

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