An early morning altercation on Easter Sunday at a Tampa apartment complex ended with a 19-year-old man behind bars on charges including first-degree murder. Jesiah Deangelo-Cruz is accused of shooting a man multiple times, resulting in the victim’s death after being transported to AdventHealth Carrollwood Hospital, according to WFLA. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident, which occurred around 3:45 a.m. on Orange Grove Drive.
The identity of the man who was killed has not been released by authorities. Deangelo-Cruz was later arrested by Pasco County deputies in connection to a separate domestic violence incident. According to the same WFLA report, the sheriff's office obtained a warrant for his arrest on charges related to that incident, which included armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. Further evidence linked Deangelo-Cruz to the deadly shooting, leading to the additional charge of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm.
Sheriff Chad Chronister described the arrest, stating, "This suspect made a devastating and violent choice that took an innocent life. Thanks to the determined efforts of our detectives, he is now charged and will face the full consequences of his actions." He expressed hope for comfort to the victim's loved ones, as detailed in a quote by Tampa Bay Times. Chronister also emphasized the ongoing work with partners to ensure Deangelo-Cruz is held fully accountable.
Details regarding the circumstances that led to the identification of Deangelo-Cruz as the suspect have not been made public by the sheriff's office. Meanwhile, the suspect is awaiting extradition to Hillsborough County on the murder charge alongside the charges related to the domestic violence incident. The additional evidence connecting him to the shooting has not been specified by the investigators, as noted by FOX 13 News.
