Guardian Angels Begin Patrols In Seminole Heights Neighborhood As Search for Gunman Continues

TAMPA, FL - The Tampa chapter of the Guardian Angels is helping keep residents of Seminole Heights safe as the search continues for a gunman responsible for three shooting deaths. The neighborhood watchdog group said on its Facebook page that it began foot patrols on Sunday in the area. The Guardian Angels is an unarmed, volunteer citizen group.

A community meeting is being held at 6:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the three shooting deaths that have occurred in the neighborhood in recent weeks. The meeting will be held at Edison Elementary School with Mayor Bob Buckhorn and interim Police Chief Brian Dugan attending.

“It could be random acts of violence. It could be a serial killer. It could be anything at this point. But it is unusual to have this many homicides in such a small area,” Ron Smith, the Tampa Chapter leader of the Guardian Angels, told News Channel 8.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tampa Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Three people were shot and killed in the neighborhood 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 say they are receiving tips but have not released any information on a possible suspect.

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.

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 Guardian Angels group says it has 20 to 40 members walking, driving and watching the streets in the area where the shootings happened.

Guardian Angels volunteer William Cruz said the group will ensure the safety of residents.
“If they are scared to go to the grocery store or to church we are here. We will walk with them,” Cruz said.

To read the News Channel 8 story, click here.

Image via the Guardian Angels