11 p.m. -- Tampa Police announce they are in the process of making an arrest in the Seminole Heights murder cases.

Howell Donaldson III, 24, will face four counts of first degree murder in connection with the investigation.

 

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said late Tuesday that the tip that caused police and ATF to converge on the McDonald's location in Ybor City earlier in the day came in around 2:30 p.m. A co-worker of Donaldson's approached a Tampa Police officer on foot and said that Donaldson had a firearm at the restaurant.

Investigators are now trying to find ties between Donaldson and the neighborhood where the murders occurred.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn called the impending arrest a victory for "goodness."

"Tonight, goodness has won. Light has won," Buckhorn said. "Justice will occur when this individual rots in hell."

 

 


 

Tampa police said Tuesday afternoon they responded to an Ybor City McDonald's after receiving a tip about someone there with a gun.

  • Red car surrounded at Ybor City McDonald's
  • Police told man was there with gun
  • Chief Dugan said there could be connection with Seminole Heights murders

Police Chief Brian Dugan said at 5 p.m. they found the person and are interviewing him.

Officers also recovered the gun and have surrounded a red car. Police emphasized at the 5 p.m. news conference that the person had not been arrested.

The restaurant is located just off Interstate 4. Officers received the tip at about 2:45 p.m.

Dugan said he "believes it has to do with Seminole Heights," a reference to the four recent slayings in the area. But he said it is very early in the investigation.

A reward of more than $100,000 has been offered for tips leading to an arrest in the Seminole Heights cases. Police have received about 5,000 tips overall.

"We treat everything like it's the real deal," Dugan said.

"I'm hopeful. I'm guarded. I've been disappointed before," he said in Ybor City.

The Seminole Heights community has been on edge since the first week of October.

Benjamin Mitchell, 22, was killed on Oct. 9. Two days later, 32-year-old Monica Hoffa was killed in a vacant lot. Anthony Naiboa, 20, was shot and killed Oct. 19.

Ronnie Felton, 60, was killed Nov. 14 as he got off his bus stop shortly before 5 a.m.

Police Chief Dugan and Mayor Buckhorn will be updating the public on the investigation Tuesday at 11 p.m.

Stay with us for the latest updates.