State Attorney Agrees To Plea Deal For Seminole Heights Killer With Approval Of Families

TAMPA, FL — After nearly six years, the families of who were murdered in a series of shootings in the fall of 2017 finally have closure. Seminole Heights spree killer Howell Emanuel Donaldson III pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder on Monday morning.

The random shootings of people in Seminole Heights who were walking down the sidewalk or waiting for a bus at a bus stop terrorized the community from Oct. 9, 2017, to Nov. 14, 2017.

The fear didn't dissipate until Tampa police announced on Nov. 29, 2017, the arrest of Donaldson III, the son of middle class parents, Rosita and Howell Donaldson II, and a standout basketball player at Alonso High School and Tampa Catholic High School.

By then, four people — Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa and Ronald Felton — were dead.

• Benjamin Mitchell was murdered on Oct. 9, 2017
• Monica Hoffa was murdered on Oct. 11, 2017
• Anthony Naiboa was murdered on Oct. 19, 2017
• Ronald Felton was murdered on Nov. 14, 2017

Up until recently, Donaldson maintained his innocence throughout his nearly six years in jail while his trial was continued multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic and appeals by his attorneys including a request to evaluate Donaldson's fitness for trial on the basis of a previous diagnosis of schizophrenia.

A trial date was finally set for this August. However, instead of going to trial, Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said Donaldson and his legal team approached her office several weeks ago with a deal for Donaldson to admit his guilt to avoid the death penalty.

Lopez said she wanted to get the approval of the victims' families first before announcing the plea, and she said she received their "overwhelming support" for the plea deal.

“During a lengthy trial, the families would have been forced to listen to horrific testimony and would have to relive the nightmare not only during the trial but in the years to come during the appellate process,” Lopez said.

“There is no question this is and always will be a death penalty case. This coward committed unspeakable acts and wreaked havoc on our community for weeks on end. He will now be locked in a prison cell for the rest of his life where he will make no more headlines," said Lopez. "We do this with the blessing of the victims’ family members who can now move forward without a lengthy trial or appeals process. We honor Ben, Monica, Anthony and Ronald’s memories as we close this painful chapter for their families and our community."

Related:

• Tampa Police Confident Seminole Heights Suspect Is Killer
• Accused Seminole Heights Killer Declines To Attend Arraignmen
• Trial Date Set For Accused Seminole Heights Serial Killer
• Accused Seminole Heights Killer Held Without Bond
• Tampa Police: We Have A Suspect In Seminole Heights Shootings
• Tampa Police Make Arrest In 4 Seminole Heights Slayings
• Parents Of Accused Seminole Heights Shooter Put On House Arrest

“Countless hours and sleepless nights were dedicated to finding this killer and restoring peace to the Seminole Heights community he terrorized," said Tampa interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw. "Our Tampa police officers conducted a monumental and exceptional investigation to ensure that this man would never have the opportunity to bring harm to another person, and this sentence ensures just that. We remain steadfast in our commitment as a police department to finding and holding accountable anyone who attempts to jeopardize the safety of our Tampa residents.”

“Today’s announcement can never heal the broken hearts of the families whose lives were ripped apart by this killer or the community that was terrorized for 51 days. It does, however, bring finality to this case," said former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who was in office during the serial murders. "Justice for the families and the assurance that his remaining years are spent in the hell of his own making is only fitting."

“My daughter Monica was like a ray of sunshine with a playful spirit that is deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. While nothing will bring our beloved child back, it is a small comfort to know this coward will never hurt another innocent person again," said Monica Hoffa’s father, Kenny Hoffa. "I want to thank Tampa police and the Seminole Heights community for your unwavering support during this nightmare. My faith in God will pull my family through this latest chapter in our story. We will continually reflect on Monica’s incredible zest for life as her memory lives on through the rest of us.”

Donaldson is the son of Rosita and Howell Donaldson II. The couple have three children, two sons and a daughter, and own the Shear Excellence Hair Academy: Beauty School in Tampa.

Donaldson was 24 years old and a recent graduate of St. John’s University in Queens, New York City, when he was arrested.

He was working at McDonald's at 2101 E 13th Ave., owned by one of his fformer Tampa Catholic basketball coaches, when he asked a co-worker to watch a plastic bag for him while he went to have his check cashed. He told her not to look inside.

Noticing that the bag was unusually heavy, the co-worker looked inside anyway and found a gun. She then contacted the Tampa police who tied the gun to the Seminole Heights shootings.

After his arrest, Lopez said investigators compiled a mountain of evidence linking him to all four murders, including Donaldson's cell phones, which placed him in the area at the time each murder occurred.

"The state attorney’s office would like to thank the Tampa Police Department for their incredible dedication to solving these murders," Lopez said. "We commend former Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and Mayor Bob Buckhorn for being a constant support to members of the Seminole Heights Community who were tormented by this defendant for nearly two months. We appreciate Mayor Jane Castor’s consistent support and leadership throughout this process."

She also commended the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for its swift evidence processing that helped to build a strong case against the Donaldson, the Attorney General’s Office, FBI and the Florida Highway Patrol who played roles in the case.

"Most importantly, we thank the family members of each victim for their courage and strength through these unimaginable circumstances," she said.