Fire destroys garage but spares triplex

ST. PETERSBURG -- Fire destroyed three cars in a garage attached to a triplex tonight, but a cement block firewall left the homes unscathed.

The fire started about 8:20 p.m. at 3123 39th St. S. and firefighters were still putting out hotspots about an hour later. Lt. Joel Granata of St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue said flames were shooting through the roof and the fire persisted because of the electronics, motors and wires in the cars. He added that firefighters still haven't been able to get inside or determine the cause of the blaze.

All three residents were home at the time, but were unhurt. Granata said they were drinking wine outside, waiting for the work to wrap up. He said their homes are fine to live in.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

New Port Richey motorcyclist dies in crash

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A motorcyclist is dead after a woman pulled into his path as she pulled out of a shopping  center onto State Road 54.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the motorcyclist as Allen Robert Hall, 66, of New Port Richey.

Marsha Goslin Itro, 66, of New Port Richey was driving a 1995 Honda sedan, leaving the Bealls shopping center just west of Rowan Road about 3:40 p.m. Thursday. She pulled into the path of the westbound motorcycle, which struck the left side of the Honda and threw the rider off, the report said.

Hall was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he died. The crash blocked traffic on SR 54 for several hours, the FHP said.

Itro was treated for minor injuries, and the investigation is continuing.

Times Staff Writer

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One dead, one injured in Plant City shooting

PLANT CITY -- One man is dead and another wounded after a backyard shooting in Plant City.

Hillsborough sheriff's deputies were alerted about the incident at 1:14 p.m. and are investigating the matter at 3506 Juanita Drive.

Initial information indicates the victims were with the assailant in a Silver Pontiac Grand Am before they arrived at the trailer, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. They were all in the back yard when shots were fired.

Michael James Longoria, 36, was found dead at the scene. Another man was taken to the hospital, and his condition was not known. Meanwhile, the suspect fled the scene.

Longoria has multiple drug-related arrests in Hillsborough and Polk counties. Carter said deputies aren't sure what the motives of the shooting were, but that they had heard that it could be drug-related.

She said they don't have a suspect yet. Check back to This Just In for updates.

Rebecca Catalanello and Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writers

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Jury finds man guilty of 1985 Oldsmar rape

A jury today found Dwayne Edward Sheppard guilty of raping an Oldsmar woman 23 years ago.

Sheppard, who faces up to life in prison, did not react to the verdict. He was escorted from the courtroom by bailiffs without looking at his wife and kids in the courtroom.

His victim was in the courtroom when the verdict was read, but she did not visibly react. Sheppards's attorneys left without comment.

The case was unusual because Sheppard was not even a suspect for 20 years. A cold-case investigator three years ago matched a fingerprint found on the victim's window screen to Sheppard's.

Sheppard, who worked for Oldsmar's water division, claimed in court Wednesday that his print might have gotten on the screen during in the course of his official duties. The victim, however, said her water meter was nowhere near the window.

It took the jury about 2 1/2 hours to reach the verdict. Sentencing has not been set.

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Woman's body found after jumping from Skyway

A woman jumped off the Sunshine Skyway about 1 p.m. today, and her body was later found floating in Tampa Bay, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the woman as Lisa Marie Koester, 25, of 3820 59th Sreet West in Bradenton.

Troopers received a call about the woman and were on the scene about six minutes later.

Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Vida Morgan said the FHP called saying they had found a woman's body floating in the bay. Hillsborough deputies are on the scene because that part of the bridge is in Hillsborough.

Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer

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Police identify pedestrian killed in Dade City

DADE CITY -- Rex Allen Mcbee, 56, of 38204 McDonald St., Dade City, was killed Wednesday evening when he walked in front of a vehicle while crossing U.S. 301, according to the Dade City Police Department. Mcbee was on his way to Happy Days Bar to help others hang Christmas decorations, officials said.

Rhonda Guadarrama, the driver of the car that hit Mcbee, said she did not see him until it was too late. The area of the crash is poorly lit, and officials said Mcbee was dressed in dark clothing.

The Dade City Police Department is investigating the wreck. They said charges against Guadarrama are unlikely.

Helen Anne Travis, Times Staff Writer

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Police: Same gunmen may be behind two shootings

The view from behind the cashier's counter, looking out at the Suhani convenience store at 2539 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N in St. Petersburg. [CHERIE DIEZ | Times]

UPDATE -- St. Petersburg police believe the same gunmen may be responsible for shooting and robbing two brothers who were gunned down in their convenience stores just two days apart.

Narendra Patel, a 53-year-old father of two, was shot three times Monday night at his Fifth Ave. N Star Deli and was released from the hospital Wednesday. Later, his younger brother Indravadan Patel, a 46-year-old father of three, was shot in the stomach while being robbed Wednesday night.

Police have not identified the gunmen, and they have no indication that the family was targeted.

But after releasing a videotape of Wednesday's robbery this afternoon, police say there appear to be enough similarities between the two robberies to suggest it was the same crew: There were two gunmen, one standing lookout by the door while the other confronted the owner, and the masked gunmen in each robbery also appear to be dressed similarly.

New Bucs, Rays license plates for sale

Calling all Bucs and Rays fans: Local tax collector's offices across Florida will begin selling redesigned team license plates Friday.

The Bucs plate will feature the same skull and swords flag, but will include the lettering that's painted on the Raymond James Stadium end zone. The Bucs plates are the most popular specialty plates in the state, with more than 31,000 of the old design sold.

The Rays plate will have the new blue-based color scheme and trademark star instead of the old devil ray. About 1,000 Rays plates are now being used.

Proceeds from both plates support the Professional Sports Development Fund and the Florida Sports Foundation.

Two more plates recently approved by the Legislature -- a tennis-themed tag and one celebrating the Florida Lighthouse Association -- will also go on sale Friday. Sales of the tennis plates will support the Florida Sports Foundation, the U.S. Tennis Association's Florida unit and the association's foundation. Funds from lighthouse tag sales will help the Florida Lighthouse Association preserve the state's 29 historic lighthouses.

The specialty fee is $25 annually in addition to the routine registration fees.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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Police: Clearwater robberies target Hispanic men

CLEARWATER -- Clearwater police say they've noticed a pattern in recent armed robberies: Hispanic males are the targets.

Since January, more than 50 robberies appear to share similar locations, suspect and vehicle descriptions, methods of operation, and victim descriptions, police said. Despite a few recent arrests related to those incidents, the pattern has continued.

Five of six armed robberies since October happened around Drew Street and U.S. Highway 19. In all the cases, at least one of the victims was a Hispanic male and the suspects were black males between 17 and 25 years old. In 16 robberies, the suspects wore masks. The majority of crimes occurred between 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. on every day of the week.

Most of the time, suspects were armed with handguns, police said. They knocked the victims to the ground, punched or kicked them or held guns to their heads before taking victims' wallets and money. In two of the cases, a victim was shot.

Besides extra patrols, Clearwater police are distributing fliers in English and Spanish to residents of the targeted area. They also have offered several safety tips: walk or ride with others, be aware of surroundings, don't carry large amounts of cash and avoid dark areas.

Anyone with information about the robberies should call the Clearwater Police Department tip line at (727) 562-4422.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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Today's weather: Stash that coat!

Breathe a sigh of relief and put away that coat. Today's weather will be more like the Florida you're used to.

Highs will be in the mid 70s, with warmer weather later this afternoon, said Juli Marquez, Bay News 9 meteorologist.

The next few days will be similar, but a cold front will move through over the weekend. Monday morning will likely be the chilliest of the next week with temperatures dipping below 60 degrees, Marquez said.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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Police seek two men in Oldsmar robbery

OLDSMAR -- Detectives are searching for two suspects in a Wednesday night robbery at a Wal-Mart in Oldsmar, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

About 9:45 p.m., a man robbed two employees of the Wal-Mart at 3801 Tampa Road while a second man waited outside in a getaway car.

The first robber is a white man, in his mid to late 20s, last seen wearing a black hoodie and jeans. The only description available on the man in the vehicle is that he is a white. There is no description of the vehicle at this time.

No further information is available. Check back here for updates.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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