News (Media Awareness Project) - US FL: Drugs May Have Lured Victim to His Death |
| Title: | US FL: Drugs May Have Lured Victim to His Death |
| Published On: | 2003-11-20 |
| Source: | St. Petersburg Times (FL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-23 22:01:10 |
DRUGS MAY HAVE LURED VICTIM TO HIS DEATH
The Man's Mother Says He Was Trying To Kick Crack Cocaine. Police Are
Investigating Whether He Was Seeking A High When He Was Shot.
ST. PETERSBURG - Diana Davis said her son wanted to beat his crack
cocaine addiction.
But early Wednesday, that habit may have lured Erik Thomas to the
Childs Park neighborhood, where he was shot dead, police said.
Detectives are investigating whether Thomas, a 35-year-old Largo
resident, drove his work truck to 46th Street and 11th Avenue S to buy
crack.
"He knew he had a problem, but cocaine is stronger than anything in
this world," Davis said. "He's safe now."
No arrests had been made as of late Wednesday. Police were still
working to identify suspects in the city's 23rd homicide.
At 12:45 a.m., a resident called police to report a man slumped in his
truck seat at 4627 11th Ave. S.
Detectives think Thomas was shot in the upper body and drove away
before losing consciousness and rolling into a yard. He was pronounced
dead at the scene.
The neighborhood is no stranger to drug crime. So far this year,
police have received 89 calls about narcotics in two of the 17 crime
tracts that make up the Childs Park area.
Thomas' criminal record does not show recent drug charges, but he was
arrested over the summer on charges of tampering with evidence.
Clearwater police said Thomas swallowed a piece of crack after an
officer pulled him over for a running a stop sign.
Despite his troubles, Thomas, a graduate of Lealman High School, had a
steady girlfriend and installed sprinkler systems for a living, his
mother said.
Davis last saw her son a few days ago. He was working in Palm Harbor
and stopped by her Clearwater home for lunch. He ate two sandwiches
and talked about putting a Santa on the roof. He asked if he could use
her house to hide presents for his girlfriend's children.
"He was excited about Christmas," Davis said. "He'd already strung the
lights outside the house."
Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Michael Kovacsev
at (727) 892-5129.
The Man's Mother Says He Was Trying To Kick Crack Cocaine. Police Are
Investigating Whether He Was Seeking A High When He Was Shot.
ST. PETERSBURG - Diana Davis said her son wanted to beat his crack
cocaine addiction.
But early Wednesday, that habit may have lured Erik Thomas to the
Childs Park neighborhood, where he was shot dead, police said.
Detectives are investigating whether Thomas, a 35-year-old Largo
resident, drove his work truck to 46th Street and 11th Avenue S to buy
crack.
"He knew he had a problem, but cocaine is stronger than anything in
this world," Davis said. "He's safe now."
No arrests had been made as of late Wednesday. Police were still
working to identify suspects in the city's 23rd homicide.
At 12:45 a.m., a resident called police to report a man slumped in his
truck seat at 4627 11th Ave. S.
Detectives think Thomas was shot in the upper body and drove away
before losing consciousness and rolling into a yard. He was pronounced
dead at the scene.
The neighborhood is no stranger to drug crime. So far this year,
police have received 89 calls about narcotics in two of the 17 crime
tracts that make up the Childs Park area.
Thomas' criminal record does not show recent drug charges, but he was
arrested over the summer on charges of tampering with evidence.
Clearwater police said Thomas swallowed a piece of crack after an
officer pulled him over for a running a stop sign.
Despite his troubles, Thomas, a graduate of Lealman High School, had a
steady girlfriend and installed sprinkler systems for a living, his
mother said.
Davis last saw her son a few days ago. He was working in Palm Harbor
and stopped by her Clearwater home for lunch. He ate two sandwiches
and talked about putting a Santa on the roof. He asked if he could use
her house to hide presents for his girlfriend's children.
"He was excited about Christmas," Davis said. "He'd already strung the
lights outside the house."
Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Michael Kovacsev
at (727) 892-5129.
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