Ammonia leak in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG – An ammonia leak at a seafood business Saturday night prompted emergency officials to close down streets and businesses and ask nearby residents to stay in their homes.

No injuries were reported and the leak was clamped after about two hours.

The leak occurred about 8:10 p.m. at Key West Fresh and Frozen Seafood, 333 14th Ave. S. St. Petersburg police officers and firefighters summoned to the scene could see a cloud of gas coming from the building and reported a strong ammonia odor in the area.

A 9-mph wind pushed the ammonia, which can cause breathing difficulties, into nearby neighborhoods. Officials didn’t order any evacuations, but used the reverse-911 system to alert residents to stay in their homes and close their doors and windows.

The area affected was bounded by 15th Avenue S and 22nd Avenue S, east of 4th Street S, including the Tropical Shores neighborhood. The area has since been reopened.

Police also closed a number of nearby streets as firefighters set up a command center at Fourth Street and 15th Avenue S. Officials asked a nearby Wendy’s and McDonald’s to shut down, which they did.

“There is a danger in the immediate vicinity,” said Bill Jolley, assistant chief with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.

Firefighters waited until the building owner arrived on scene, then entered the business to stop the leak about 10:25 p.m., Jolley said.

-- Andrew DeLong, Times Staff Writer

No suspects yet in Odessa homicide

[UPDATE]: The Sheriff's Office said they don't yet have any suspects in the murder of 61-year-old lawyer Lawrence J. Higgins, of Odessa.

Today, detectives are investigating at his house, at 11523 Trotting Down Drive, where an unnamed work associate found him dead.

There was no sign of forced entry, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter. His associate had a key, and there were no signs that anyone else had forced entry, she said today.

***

TAMPA -- A 61-year-old lawyer was found dead in a gated northwest Hillsborough subdivision Friday and the Sheriff's Office said tonight it was a homicide.

Lawrence J. Higgins, 11523 Trotting Down Drive in Odessa, was found dead about when a business associated went to check on him. He died of trauma to the upper torso, the Sheriff's Office said.

The agency was called to the home about 9:50 a.m. Friday.

John McGovern Jr. of Severna Park, Md., says he knew Higgins for 15 years. Higgins, he says, practiced life insurance law in Washington, D.C., before relocating to Florida.

--Times staff