2nd Homicide Takes Place At Tampa Apartment Complex Within Week

TAMPA, FL — There's nothing especially sinister about the Willow Brooke apartment complex.

Located at 14417 Hellenic Drive off North 42nd Street between Fletcher Avenue to the south and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the north, the apartment complex sits in an area filled with apartments housing students attending the nearby University of South Florida and young employees of the tech businesses congregated along the Interstate 74 corridor.

It's a bit posher than the average university housing. Surrounded by a regal brick wall, it features a clubhouse, business center, fitness center and on-site management housed in a trendy cracker-style structure with an aluminum roof. There's a swimming pool, playground and picturesque pond filled with lily pads. The one- and two-bedroom apartments rent for $1,000 to $1,065 a month.

So, is it coincidence or is the apartment complex home to a criminal element that's resulted in two unrelated shooting deaths in less than a week?

That's what Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives are looking into as they investigate the second homicide at the apartment complex.

Detectives say they now have one suspect in the July 9 fatal shooting at the apartment complex but believe as many as three people were involved in the homicide.

Detectives said Katrell Hubbard, 25, is wanted for one count of second-degree murder (firearm discharge).

On Friday, July 9, just before 10 p.m., deputies were called to the apartment complex for a report of shots fired. Inside one of the apartments, they discovered a man dead of upper body gunshot wounds.

Detectives believe Hubbard is one of three people involved in the shooting.

Hubbard has a thin build, is 6 feet 3 inches tall and has short dreadlocks. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.

"Our detectives are working to identify those responsible for committing this terrible crime that reflects a complete disregard for human life," said Sheriff Chad Chronister.

He said the fact that the apartment complex has been the scene of two recent murder is a concern.

"Unrelated to each other, this is the second homicide this apartment community has faced in less than a week," Chronister said. "We are urging anyone who knows something about this case to please come forward and help us find these criminals."

On Wednesday, July 7, a resident of Willow Brooke called 911 to report gunshots inside their apartment. The caller said a man and a woman were arguing shortly before gunfire erupted.

Upon arrival, the Hillsborough County sheriff's SWAT team found the body of a woman inside the apartment.

On Thursday, deputies with the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Demontrey Jackson, 22, at a hotel in the Rocky Point area of Tampa and charged him with first-degree, premeditated murder in the death of the woman at Willow Brooke.

Chronister said both shooting victims, who have not been named due to Marsy's Law, the Florida law that protects the identities of crime victims, appear to have been targeted. However, the crimes are unrelated, leading detectives to lean more toward coincidence.

While there have been incidences of street gangs setting up shop at housing projects in the city of Tampa, resulting in regular calls to police, that doesn't appear to be the case here.

Patch reached out to the management of the apartment complex but has not received a reply. Two residents who were contacted declined to comment.