What started as a routine meet-up in the parking lot of the Citrus Grove Apartments in St. Petersburg turned into a shooting last Wednesday, leaving a teenager wounded and two men in handcuffs on felony charges, according to police.
Eighteen-year-old Charles Hinton and 22-year-old Christopher Tonsel were arrested after an 18-year-old was shot and rushed to a hospital, where the victim is being treated in stable condition, authorities said.
Investigators say the incident began when the 18-year-old driver and a companion pulled up to the 700 block of 15th Street South to meet with Hinton and Tonsel. The two suspects allegedly climbed into the back seat of the sedan, and things escalated almost immediately. Police reports state that Hinton pulled a gun and fired, hitting the front-seat passenger in the back of the neck. Both suspects then ran from the scene on foot, while the driver drove a block away to a convenience store near 16th Street South to call for help. Emergency crews took the victim to a nearby hospital, where the teen was listed in stable condition, as reported by Tampa Free Press.
Arrests and charges
Detectives later identified Hinton and Tonsel and arrested them in St. Petersburg. Both now face serious felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery, according to AOL. Police say the case is moving forward through the Pinellas County court system.
One suspect's prior police history
Records show this is not Tonsel’s first high-profile encounter with law enforcement. A 2021 news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office states that he was wounded in an officer-involved shooting and faced separate robbery charges. The oversight review of that incident was later covered by Tampa Bay 28, which reported that a police oversight committee cleared the officer involved.
What’s next
Both defendants are expected to appear in Pinellas County court on the felony counts. Detectives say formal charging documents and initial hearings will be handled by the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Authorities have not released additional details publicly at this time, as noted by Tampa Free Press.
