Manhunt: 2 Armed Kidnappings In 2 Days

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is searching for several suspects believed to be connected to two separate armed kidnappings that occurred over the past two days.

According to the sheriff’s office, the first kidnapping occurred on Wednesday, March 15 around 4 a.m. At that time, a person at the Oak Bend Apartments, off University Woods Place, was “forced into his vehicle at gunpoint,” a Friday afternoon email from the sheriff’s office said.

The two male suspects in the case drove the man to a Bank of America ATM at the corner of Fowler and Nebraska avenues. After forcing the man to withdraw money, deputies say the “suspects took the money and the victim’s cell phone and returned him and his vehicle to his residence.”

The suspects then took off on foot, the sheriff’s office said.

Detailed descriptions of the suspects in the first kidnapping are not available.

The second armed kidnapping occurred around 11:46 p.m. March 16 when deputies say a man was sitting in his parked vehicle outside the Spanish Trace Apartments, which is across 15th Street North from Oak Bend. This time, the victim was approached by three suspects; two of them were armed, the sheriff’s office wrote.

“The victim was forced into the passenger seat, driven to several locations and ordered to withdraw money and purchase several items,” the email said.

Once again, the victim and vehicle were both returned safely by the suspects, who then fled on foot.

The victim in the second kidnapping was able to provide more detailed descriptions of his attackers. The descriptions are as follows:

• Suspect 1 – A black male in his early 20s standing about 5-foot-7. The man had light skin, thick eyebrows, a slim muscular build and a short black buzz cut. The sheriff’s office said no tattoos were observed, but the man possibly had a mustache. He was wearing a black hooded sweater, dark pants, black shoes and black gloves. He was carrying what is believed to a be a black .45 caliber handgun.
• Suspect 2 – A black teen between the age of 15 and 16. He stands between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-6. The teen had no facial hair or tattoos, the sheriff’s office said. He had a slim, skinny build and darker skin. His hair was cut in a top fade. He is described as having a “baby face.” Deputies say he was last seen wearing a black hoodie, pants, black gloves and was carrying what is believed to be a .45 caliber handgun.
• Suspect 3 – The third person wanted in connection with the March 16 attack is described as being a black teen between the age of 15 and 16. He stands about 5-foot-8 and has a medium complexion and no facial hair. Deputies say he had a longer top fade haircut than the second suspect and no tattoos. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and saggy shorts. The sheriff’s office said he stood outside with the victim at businesses while the other two suspects went inside. This suspect “kept having to pick up (his) shorts,” the sheriff’s office noted.

Anyone with information about the two crimes is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-873-TIPS or by going online to www.crimestopperstb.com.

Further information about the ongoing investigations is not yet available.

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