Suspect arrested in New Port Richey homicide

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Police arrested a 19-year-old man in a murder Friday night on St. James Road.

Torrence Antoine Bates of Oldsmar is facing a first-degree murder charge. Police say he went to the St. James Road home of 22-year-old Jose Godineaux on Friday night with the intent to buy cocaine. He told police that when he got inside, Godineaux pulled a gun. Both fired shots, and Godineaux was struck in the head. He died the next morning at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

Bates was arrested Saturday on unrelated firearms charges.

"That's one of the issues that pointed us in his direction," New Port Richey Assistant Chief Darryl Garman said.

Detectives interviewed him at the jail about the homicide, and he admitted to the killing, Garman said.

- Molly Moorhead, Times staff writer