Seminole Heights Shootings: Tampa Police Release New Video

TAMPA, FL - The Tampa Police Department released a new video Thursday of a “person of interest” in the investigation of a gunman responsible for three shooting deaths in Seminole Heights. It is the second video of the “person of interest” in the case.

The new video shows the person in the area where the first shooting happened. On Oct. 9, Benjamin Mitchell was shot and died from his wounds. Police, as they have for several days now, are asking that anyone who might know the person to come forward.

The new video can be viewed here.

The Seminole Heights neighborhood has been on edge since the three deaths occurred in the span of 11 days. Police say they have no motive and the victims did not know each other, but authorities consider the shootings to be related.

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, the 22-year-old Mitchell and Monica Hoffa, 32, were found shot to death. Hoffa’s body was found on Oct. 13.

In the first surveillance video of the “person of interest” released by police, a thin person wearing a hood can be seen 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. The first 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.

In the second video, interim Police Chief Brian Dugan noted that the person appears to be “just going for a walk,” but then starts running.

Dugan said there are several reasons why the person could be running. He added:

“One, they may be late for dinner. Two, they’re out exercising. Three, they heard gunshots. And four, they just murdered Benjamin Mitchell.”

Dugan said the police obtained the new video from the neighborhood, but wouldn’t disclose the source.

He said police believe the person has ties to the neighborhood. He added that the first video was released several days ago, and questioned why no one has come forward.

"The person could be innocent, but we want to talk" to the person, he said.

The reward for information in the case has grown to $35,000, according to police.

Dugan said Wednesday that Gov. Rick Scott had contacted him to offer the assistance of state law enforcement in the search for the gunman. Dugan said at a press conference that Scott called him on Monday to say that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol are available to help in the homicide cases. Buckhorn also said Scott called him, making a similar offer.

At a special roll call held at Giddens Park in Seminole Heights on Wednesday, Buckhorn and Dugan addressed police officers before they started their shifts. The mayor asked that the officers find the killer and “bring his head to me.”

Image via Tampa Police Department; 2nd photo via City of Tampa