Man Attempts Murder After Angry Birds Clock, TV Theft Goes South, Cops Say

The Temple Terrace Police Department has charged a man with attempted murder after a shoplifting incident at Kmart Friday.

Louis Anthony Murray, 32, who has no known address, has been charged with attempted felony murder, attempted grand theft, battery and resisting a retail merchant, according to a City of Temple Terrace press release.

A woman, Shadaveya Vanessa Jones, 23, of 8319 Allamanda Ave. in Tampa, was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, simple battery and resisting a retail merchant, the release states.

On Friday at about 7:45 p.m., Murray and Jones tried to leave Kmart with a 50-inch flat-screen TV and an Angry Birds alarm clock in a shopping cart, according to the release. The merchandise was valued at about $840.

A loss prevention agent noticed the couple exiting the store through the Garden Center without paying for the items and asked them to come back inside, the release states. A verbal argument ensued.

Murray punched the loss prevention agent in the neck, which led to a physical altercation involving all three, the release states. Murray instructed Jones to “get the car and run us over.” Jones got into a Buick LeSabre and drove toward them, striking the loss prevention specialist in the foot.

At that point, a second loss prevention agent arrived and noticed that Murray was now armed with a knife, and was attempting to stab the first prevention specialist in the neck, according to the release. The second prevention specialist was able to wrestle the knife away. Meanwhile, Jones leaned through the passenger window of her vehicle and continued to strike the loss prevention agents.

Temple Terrace police arrived and arrested Murray and Jones at the scene, the release states. The loss prevention specialists were not seriously injured.

Murray is in the Hillsborough County jail. No bond has been set.

Jones has been released from the Hillsborough County jail on $13,500 bond.