Clearwater Police Say 7 Shootings Since December Are Related

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater police detectives arrested two people over the weekend as they continue their investigation into a recent spate of shootings in the city.

Since December, there have been seven shootings across the city that police believe are connected.

On Sunday, detectives arrested Tyrese Jerrido, 17, and charged him with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.

Jerrido is accused of being involved in the March 11 shooting in the 400 block of North Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. A man and woman were found shot in the driveway of a home and taken to Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg as trauma alerts. Both survived.

Jerrido later showed up at Morton Plant Hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand.

Police also arrested Lamar Johnson, 19, over the weekend.

While detectives were searching for Jerrido on Saturday in the 900 block of Engman Street, they said they saw Johnson pull a gun from his waistband and throw it into a bush. The weapon was stolen in St. Petersburg.

Johnson was charged with delinquent in possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.

Last week, detectives arrested Derriontae Ward, 19, accused of taking part in a drive-by shooting at Drew Street and U.S. 19 that left one person dead and three others injured.

"The detectives and officers at the Clearwater Police Department have never been more committed to reducing violence in our community," said Police Chief Dan Slaughter.

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