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Man accused of 2017 Seminole Heights killings appears in court

Prosecutors believe Howell Donaldson III was responsible for one of the most notorious shooting sprees in Tampa's history.

TAMPA, Fla. — More than three years after Howell Donaldson III's arrest for four killings that terrorized Tampa's Seminole Heights community, the suspected shooter went before a judge Friday afternoon.

Donaldson is accused of killing Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa and Ronald Felton in October and November of 2017. All four shootings happened within blocks of each other. Police say they believe the shooter chose his targets at random. 

The killings led to a massive manhunt that led to Donaldson's capture at the McDonald's where he worked.

RELATED: Judge grants motion to give accused Seminole Heights serial killer 4 separate trials

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A series of court motions has delayed Donaldson's trials. In July 2018, a judge found him competent to stand trial after a mental health evaluation. That trial was set to start last August, but a judge instead granted a motion to try each murder case separately.

In court on Friday, prosecutors asked for evidence related to the homicides to be admitted into each individual trial, while the defense argued that evidence should be excluded from the additional cases. 

The judge is expected to issue a ruling on the motion next week.

Donaldson has repeatedly complained about jail conditions during his court appearances. He made headlines in 2019 when a jailhouse recording captured him saying his time behind bars was "killing" him.

His trial dates have not been set. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

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