Father Shoots 2 Children In Head After Mother Tucks Them In: Sheriff

TAMPA, FL — An 8-year-old child remains in critical condition after his father shot him and his 5-year-old sister in the head after their mother tucked them into bed, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Jermaine Lavanda Bass, 30, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm, attempted premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse with a firearm.

According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, deputies were called to Armature Gate Townhomes, 13000 Heritage Club Drive in North Tampa, just after 10:30 p.m. Monday and found two children with gunshot wounds. They were rushed to Tampa General Hospital where the 5-year-old was pronounced dead and the 8-year-old is fighting for his life.

Chronister said the children’s mother had rushed home from a dinner to tuck them into bed. She gave them a kiss goodnight then went into the bathroom, leaving the children alone with their father.

While still in the bathroom, Chronister said she heard several gunshots. She ran outside and encountered her neighbor who was already on the phone calling 911.

Chronister said, as the mother grabbed the phone from her neighbor to speak to the 911 dispatcher, Bass walked out of the townhouse carrying the 8-year-old and told her to get help.

When deputies arrived, they said Bass was still cradling the boy in his arms. He told them the gun went off by accident.

When asked if anyone else was inside the home, Bass told them that this 5-year-old daughter was asleep upstairs. When deputies entered the bedroom, they found the little girl on the top bunk of the bunk beds, lying in a pool of blood, said Chronister.

“You don’t accidentally shoot your children three to four times in the head,” Chronister said during a news conference. “He (the 8-year-old boy) went to surgery last evening, and this morning is fighting for his life as the wonderful, wonderful doctors and staff at Tampa General Hospital do everything they can to save this young boy."

Chronister said the first responders are still reeling from the tragedy.

"This is a horrific experience no parent should have to go through," he said. "This is an experience no law enforcement or first responder should ever have to witness. We as a sheriff's office are struggling today. Our detectives and deputies who were on scene are going to need some help, and we’re bringing some counselors in to try to get them through this gruesome scene that they had to witness and the detectives have to work through as they continue to put the pieces of the puzzle together here.”

Noting that Bass has no criminal history, Chronister said it's a tragedy that's beyond understanding.

"I hope that this individual feels the full weight of the criminal justice system and never sees the light of day where he can ever be in a position to harm another human being," he said.