TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw says his detectives are working to identify two people seen with 14-year-old Jevario Buie minutes before he was shot and left to die by railroad tracks in Tampa.
In the more than three weeks since Buie was slain, no arrests have been made. Now, by sharing surveillance video uncovered during the investigation, police are hoping to speak with two persons of interest.
The short video clip shows two presumably young men walking alongside Buie on W. Busch Boulevard not far from where his body was found. Detectives aren't sure who these people are and are hoping someone can help identify them so police can speak with them.
"We have pleaded with the community to provide any tips that can help solve this case and I am here again today asking for the same thing," Bercaw said during a news conference Thursday as he urged the community to reach out and help solve this homicide.
"We are committed to getting justice in the tragic death of Jevario Buie," Bercaw continued. "This was a senseless act that took a young life from our community far too soon. We know someone out there knows something and you need to come forward, even anonymously."
"And if it isn't hard enough to bury your baby, the person who is responsible for this tragedy is not yet behind bars," Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said during the news conference. "And that is where you can help."
"This family has been through hell over the past 22 days," she continued. "And someone out there knows who is responsible for killing a 14-year-old, innocent child."
"Jevario's family needs and deserves closure," Lopez added.
In addition to the video released by police, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people who killed Buie. A previous reward amount totaling $8,000 was offered, including $1,000 from Buie's family.
Now, $20,000 is the reward for the anonymous tip that leads to an arrest. The money was put together in part by a donation from Thaddeus Bullard, aka WWE superstar and global ambassador Titus O'Neil and other community partners.
Bullard said this case hits close to home, not just because he is a father of three but also because Buie's death happened not far from a school that bears Bullard's name, the Bullard Academy at Sligh Middle Magnet School.
"I don't want us to focus on anything other than the fact a 14-year-old was murdered at 3:30 in the afternoon," Bullard said.
"To Jasmine Baldwin, [Jevario's] mother, and his grandmother and the rest of his family, as I told her in the back, I can't replace what was lost and there's no amount of money that can ever change that," he continued. "But to those that have also partnered with Crime Stoppers, along with myself, to raise this reward up to $20,000, I thank you.
"Somebody out there knows something," he added.
On April 17, Buie was found dead near the railroad tracks between Busch Boulevard and Rome Avenue.
According to his grandfather, Buie went near the train tracks thinking he was going to stand up to a bully. Instead, he says a group ambushed and killed him.
“We believe that he was lured into that space by somebody that he trusted,” Michael Baldwin said. “Somebody that he saw as a friend. That friend saw it go down and ran and left him.”
His family will remember Jevario as the budding football player and jokester. They're hoping his killer will remember his face and find a conscience to turn themselves in.
Anyone with information about who killed Buie is asked to contact police at 813-231-6130 or send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or **TIPS, report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com, or send a mobile tip using the free Florida Crime Stoppers Mobile application.
Anonymous tips will be eligible for the reward.
CORRECTION: A previous headline on this story was updated to reflect the correct spelling of the teen's name, Jevario Buie.