Family, Police Take To Streets For Tips On Shooting Of 4-Year-Old

TAMPA, FL — With her hair lovingly braided by her mother and sneakers adorned with sassy bright pink laces, the photo of 4-year-old Suni Michelle Bell highlights her easy grin and a mischievous glint in her big brown eyes.

It's that image of childhood innocence that has captured the hearts of thousands of people across Tampa Bay and galvanized an entire police department intent on catching the little girl's killer.

On Thursday, more than 25 Tampa police officers accompanied Suni's mother, Mary Harrison, and her grandmother, Drial Bell, as they knocked on doors and distributed flyers in the hopes of motivating someone to come forward with a tip that will lead to the arrest of Suni's killer and bring closure to her grieving family.

Joining them were members of the East Tampa anti-violence organization, Rise Up For Peace, and its founder, Jacquline Saddler-Daniels, along with Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and state Rep. Dianne Hart. Every month since January, Rise Up For Peace has held a walk to raise awareness of the rising violence occurring in Tampa and encourage residents to speak up. Suni's death is the latest in a series of fatal shootings that have occurred in Tampa in the past year.

The group spent more than three hours canvassing the East Tampa community where Suni, who just started prekindergarten, was shot to death as she rode in the backseat of her family's car around 9 p.m. Sunday.

Assistant Police Chief Ruben Delgado said investigators still have no clue why the occupants of an approaching vehicle opened fire on the car as Mary Harrison drove west along the 4300 block of Hillsborough Avenue. Harrison lost control of the car and crashed into a TECO power pole.

When she turned around to check on her daughter, she discovered that the little girl had been struck by a bullet. Suni was rushed to the hospital where she died.

The frustration and anger of city leaders was evident during a news conference Monday at which Hart announced that, in addition to the $5,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, they were adding $4,500 to the pot for tips leading to the apprehension of Suni's killer.

"This is another senseless murder that's happened on the streets of Tampa, and we're looking for help," Delgado said. "We know there are people out there with information."

When she was Tampa police chief in 2015, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the number of homicides was in the low 20s. This year, there have already been 26 homicides in the city and more than 1,000 guns have been confiscated from city streets.

"We have got to stop the violence in our city," she said. "Now we know violence has escalated across the nation, but this is not the nation. This is the city of Tampa. We are a very peaceful community. We are a community that comes together when any issues need to be addressed. A 4-year-old was shot to death in our streets."

The tragedy hit close to home for Tampa City Council member Orlando Gudes.

As a young police officer, he recalls responding to a call on 19th Street and finding a young boy who'd been shot.

"I'll never forget it," he said. "This young boy died in my arms."

With 400,000 people living in the city and just 1,000 police officers, he said the entire community needs to get involved.

"Each of us, this is our responsibility to stop this violence," he said. "We need people to come forward. The community has got to get involved."

Hart said she visited with Harrison and her family earlier that day.

"My heart bleeds for that young mother. What do you say to the mother of a 4-year-old when her daughter has been gunned down?" she asked. "I've had several relatives shot in this very same area. We need you. We cannot continue in our community like this. We talk about building a community. You don't build it with guns."

Serene Oasis Funeral Services in Tampa is handling the funeral arrangements. Residents can leave a message for the family in the guest book on the funeral home's website, send sympathy flowers to the funeral home or plant memorial trees in a national forest in Suni's honor.

Tips on the shooting can be called in to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS (8477), sent online or through the P3 Tips Mobile app.