Three teenagers have been charged with attempted murder in Central Florida.
The Tampa Police Department accused the three juveniles following a series of violent incidents in July that injured two people, including a homeless man who is in serious condition.
The assaults began in the early hours of July 13th. Before 2:30 a.m., local law officers reported that a white male in his mid-40s and a white female in her mid-30s were resting on the 800 block of E. MLK Blvd. Three men approached them, verbally antagonized them, and started hurling rocks at them. The female victim was hit in the back of the head before the perpetrators fled the scene. She was not severely hurt. The initial occurrence went unnoticed at the time.
Hours later, at around 7:45 a.m., officers on proactive patrol in the 3900 block of N. Nebraska Ave. discovered a Hispanic male in his mid-60s lying seriously injured and lifeless behind a closed store. He was taken to a local hospital for critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. He was placed on a medically necessary ventilator as medical professionals monitored his status.
As police began their investigation into the 7:45 a.m. discovery, they spoke with the victims of the earlier 2:30 a.m. assault, whose recollections and statements assisted investigators in establishing a clear timeline and gathering preliminary suspect descriptions. The crime scenes are less than a quarter mile apart.
Information and photographs of the suspects were shared around the department, prompting an attentive officer to provisionally identify the individuals as 13-year-old Samari Bryant, 14-year-old Corliss Sirmons, and 16-year-old Javonnie Council.
Before the attacks were properly linked, the three suspects, along with a 16-year-old Black female, were arrested in response to an unrelated complaint for repeated auto burglaries on Emma Street. During that arrest, officers discovered clothing and evidence that subsequently tied the teens to both brutal attacks.
According to local law enforcement, preliminary findings from the assault investigations revealed that the group intended to harass and abuse homeless people for entertainment because they were “bored.”
Bryant and Council were arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in prejudice, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Bryant is also facing unrelated accusations such as battery and exposure of sexual organs in connection with a different incident reported by an adult female in a nearby park while he was being arrested.
Sirmons, who was already in custody at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Detention Center on other charges, was charged with attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon evidencing prejudice in relation to the attacks.
Bryant, Council, and Sirmons, as well as the female juvenile who was not involved in the attacks, are charged with six counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance in connection with the auto burglary investigation, according to the Tampa Police Department.
“The fact that boredom is cited as a reason for criminal activity at any level, let alone attempted murder, is highly concerning, and those responsible will be held fully accountable,” stated Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “While many teens in our city actively participate in constructive, city and department-sponsored programs, there is simply no excuse for the senseless behavior demonstrated by this group.”
Anyone with additional information regarding this case can call the Tampa Police Department at 813.231.6130. Those who want to remain anonymous can give tips to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 800.873. TIPS.
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