Child Shot Following Gas Station Dispute, Suspect At Large: HCSO

BRANDON, FLA — Police are searching for an eight-time felon after A child was shot Saturuday morning after the vehicle the juvenile was riding in was shot at following a dispute at a local gas station, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department said.

Police have identified Jontavius Laquan Shaeron Monroe, 33, in the shooting, which took place just after 10 a.m. Saturday at the Citgo station at 12020 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, police said. Monroe faces multiple charges, including aggravated battery, attempted murder in the first degree, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into a vehicle, and felon in possession of a firearm, police said Saturday

After the argument at the gas station , police said the suspect was seen leaving the gas station following the customer involved in the altercation. As the two vehicles traveled north on Pine Street, the suspect pulled his vehicle up to the other person’s vehicle and shot into the car, police said.

"A verbal dispute between two grown men should never end with a child being shot, and I pray for the child's quick recovery," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chorister said in a statement Saturday. "Not only did this suspect put the lives of the victim and the other customer in danger, but also those who shared the road with him while this incident took place."

The juvenile victim was transported to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

Monroe is believed to be driving a black, four-door BMW 3 Series car, police said. At this time, there is believed to be no threat to the public.

If anyone has information regarding the suspect, or the incident itself, they are asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.