Tampa Police Confident Seminole Heights Suspect Is Killer

TAMPA, FL - The background of Howell Emanuel “Trai” Donaldson III makes him an unlikely suspect for a crime in which someone gunned down four innocent people in cold blood, seemingly at random in a neighborhood where he has no ties.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan described him as “friendly,” “nice” and “laid back” during questioning about the murders at police headquarters Tuesday night. Donaldson has no criminal record and police have no motive. “We don’t know why he picked Southeast Seminole Heights,” Dugan said.

Donaldson was charged Wednesday with four counts of first-degree murder.

A friend of Donaldson says he was never known to be a troublemaker in high school, never got into fights. Donaldson graduated from Alonso High School in 2011 and played guard on the varsity basketball team.

Donaldson is a recent college graduate. The 24-year-old graduated from St. John’s University in January, after enrolling in the fall of 2011. He was a walk-on for the university's basketball team in 2011-12, but never played in a game, a St. John's spokesperson said.

During his time in college, Donaldson was arrested in New York City in 2014, but a judge ordered the case sealed, according to multiple reports. New York police said that Donaldson was arrested in Manhattan that year, but the charge is not a public record.

On Facebook, Donaldson says he received a degree in computer science with a minor in sports management. Donaldson worked at a Finish Line shoe store during his college years. His Facebook page does not appear to have been updated since 2015.

When arrested, Donaldson was working as a crew chief at a Ybor City McDonald’s.

Donaldson’s family lives in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood, which is north of Seminole Heights. Donaldson told police he "was unfamiliar” with the Seminole Heights neighborhood, and he “did not have any association with anyone in the area," according to an arrest report.

Donaldson grew up in an upper middle class family with parents who attended his high school basketball games.

A friend told heavy.com that Donaldson’s parents referred to him as “Howe,” though friends all knew him as “Trai,” a nickname that translates to “three” since he is third generation. He said Donaldson was an average student. The man said that he was never aware of Donaldson doing drugs or having any mental disorders. He thinks police have the wrong man.

Donaldson worked for the New York Mets at Citi Field. Donaldson's job title was "Guest Experience Host." He would scan tickets for fans entering the field and private VIP clubs. Donaldson also worked as a student marketing assistant for St. John's, a conference services facilities assistant and a campus recreation student worker. Between February 2013 and May 2015, Donaldson worked at an Adidas store in New York City, heavy.com reported.

According to his LinkedIn page, Donaldson worked as a Classroom Support Specialist at the Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater until May 2017.

He was employed at UMA from February 13 to May 2, 2017 working in a customer support role. He was terminated for absenteeism, according to a company statement. Per UMA hiring policy, Donaldson passed a background check prior to employment.

Donaldson is the son of Rosita and Howell Donaldson II. The couple have three children, two sons and a daughter, according to posts on Rosita Donaldson's Facebook page.

The Donaldson family runs the Shear Excellence Hair Academy in Tampa. According to their website, Rosita Donaldson is the "President/CFO/Director/Instructor" and her husband, Howell Donaldson II, is the "Vice President/Operational Manager/Student Services." The business describes itself as, "committed to excellence in Cosmetology, Nail Technology, and Restricted Barber.

Donaldson worked at the school as an assistant between May and September 2015.

Donaldson is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday morning.

Police have detailed the evidence against Donaldson in an arrest report. Dugan says a gun that Donaldson says belonged to him "was used in all four murders."

Donaldson left the gun in a fast-food bag with a McDonald’s manager at the Ybor City restaurant where he worked. He asked the manager to hold the bag but requested she not look in it while he went to a nearby Amscot to get a payday loan. Donaldson said he planned on leaving the state.

The manager did look in the bag and showed the handgun to a Tampa police officer who by happenstance was sitting in the restaurant doing paperwork. The officer called for backup and Donaldson was stopped by police on his return to the restaurant, and taken to headquarters for questioning.

Police said he agreed to have his gun examined and his car parked in the McDonald’s parking lot searched.
Officers searching Donaldson's car found clothing similar to clothes worn by the suspect in surveillance video taken the night of the first murder. The arrest report says officers also found a possible blood stain on the clothing.

FDLE officials who examined the gun said casings found at the scene of the first three murders were fired from the Glock firearm. The casings from the fourth shooting scene had previously been identified as being fired from the same gun as the first three murders. The Glock was loaded with a magazine containing five unfired rounds of SIG brand Smith and Wesson .40 caliber ammunition, the arrest report said.

Investigators later discovered Donaldson had purchased the gun on Oct. 3, then picked it up on Oct. 7. The first shooting death occurred two days later.

He also bought a 20-round box of SIG brand Smith and Wesson ammunition on Oct. 7, the arrest report said. Police found two fired SIG brand Smith and Wesson .40 caliber cartridge casings at the scene of Benjamin Mitchell's murder on Oct. 9.

Investigators who searched Donaldson's cell phone found recorded times and activities that correspond with the timing of the first three murders. Call records showed that within minutes of the first three murders Donaldson's cell phone was geographically associated with cell towers in the area.

When police showed Donaldson evidence that indicated his ties to the shootings, Donaldson requested an attorney.

Donaldson is accused of gunning down Ronald Felton, an unemployed construction worker who was on his way to volunteer at a food bank; Benjamin Mitchell, 22, who was waiting at the Route 9 bus stop on 15th Street on his way to see his girlfriend; Monica Hoffa, 32, a waitress at a local IHOP; and Anthony Naiboa, a 20-year-old Middleton High School graduate who was in the neighborhood after mistakenly getting on the wrong bus after work.

The police chief said Wednesday he wanted to assure everyone that “this is the man who did this.” A question left for police to determine: why?

Images via Tampa Police Department