ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — UPDATE (4-14-22): The St. Pete Police Department has identified a person of interest in two recent homicides. Click here for the latest update.
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St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway is asking for the public's help in getting surveillance video into the hands of detectives that could help them solve two deadly shootings.
The police department is currently investigating the death of 60-year-old Vernon Williams who authorities say was killed early April 10 on Melrose Avenue S. and 24-year-old Corlenzo Williams who died of a gunshot wound just after 1 a.m. April 12 on 17th Avenue South.
And while there are "a lot of similarities" between the "unprovoked" attacks, the police department is not yet ready to say it's searching for the same person behind the gun in each case. But they're not ruling it out either.
In each homicide — in addition to the information provided by a third person who came forward — police say a Black man driving an unknown car started a conversation with each man before shooting.
Detectives add there is no link or known connection between the two men killed. All three instances, though happened anywhere from a few blocks to two miles away from each other, according to Holloway.
“What we want to tell the public is that if someone comes up to you that period of time and you don’t know them, please, please do not go up to that car. Walk away from that car," Holloway said.
Anyone who lives in the area of Melrose Avenue South and 17th Avenue South is asked to contact police with any surveillance video or doorbell video they may have. Police are hoping the video will help them piece together exactly what happened prior to the shootings.
In the meantime, detectives and officers are said to be out in the area and assistance in the case are coming in from federal, state and local partners.
Authorities have also announced a reward of up to $5,000 for tips regarding either of the homicides. To be eligible for a potential cash reward, tipsters should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.
The St. Pete Police Department says murders are actually trending down so far in 2022. This time in 2021, there had already been 15 killings in the city. This year, including these two shooting deaths, there have only been six apparent murders in the city.