A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Hillsborough County in connection with the fatal shooting of a downtown St. Petersburg resident during an early-morning confrontation last Monday, authorities said. The victim, 29-year-old Peter-Austin Afentakis, was found critically wounded near the 100 block of 1st Avenue North and later died at a local hospital. St. Petersburg police say they are still working to unravel what triggered the dispute.
U.S. Marshals Track And Arrest Suspect
According to Tampa Free Press, detectives secured a warrant for 25-year-old Jacob Carreras after investigators said a verbal argument escalated into gunfire shortly before 3 a.m. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service located Carreras in Hillsborough County and took him into custody. He will be extradited to Pinellas County to face a second-degree murder charge, the outlet reported. Police told the publication the case remains active as they try to reconstruct the moments before shots were fired.
What Police Have Shared About The Scene
St. Petersburg officers responded to reports of gunfire and found Afentakis suffering from life-threatening injuries near 1st Avenue North and Beach Drive Northeast. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died, Fox13 Tampa Bay reported. The station identified the victim as a 29-year-old downtown resident and said detectives were canvassing the area for witnesses and any available video. Police have not released a motive or detailed description of the shooter as they continue their probe.
Neighbors And Investigators
Neighbors told local reporters they first heard sirens and thought the noise might be holiday fireworks before learning someone had been shot, according to Patch. The outlet noted that police asked anyone with information to call 727-893-7780 or submit anonymous tips via TIP411. Investigators say they are reviewing surveillance footage and any cell phone video they can find as they work to build the case.
Charges And What Comes Next
Per Tampa Free Press, Carreras faces a charge of second-degree murder and is expected to be returned to Pinellas County for prosecution. Police have again urged anyone with footage or details from the area around 1st Avenue North and Beach Drive Northeast to come forward to help fill in the remaining gaps in the timeline.
