On Friday night police in Tampa, Florida succeeded in apprehending Joseph Killins, a 38-year-old suspect responsible for a string of violent crimes in the area.
The investigation began on April 18th when a DoorDash delivery driver, a Hispanic female in her early twenties, was kidnapped and sexually assaulted. The woman was attempting to make her delivery at a Residence Inn hotel when Killins, armed with a weapon, forced her into her car and drove her to the Belara Lakes Apartments, where the assault occurred.
Thankfully, her family had been tracking her phone and rushed to the scene to her rescue. A family member was shot at by Killins as he attempted to flee, but both victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In an official statement, DoorDash expressed their shock and horror at the incident and announced that they would be assisting police in the investigation. The Tampa police department also released a composite image of the suspect based on information provided by the kidnapped victim’s family and asked for any additional information to be reported.
Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay also offered a cash reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Subsequently, the Tampa Inn was pinpointed as the suspect’s location and police were able to successfully arrest Killins late on Friday night. During the questioning, the suspect reportedly provided details “that were specific to the crimes that occurred on April 18”.
Things did not stop there, however. The very next day, another woman was assaulted by Killins in the same complex — a Hispanic female in her early 40s — and he was charged with robbery after stealing her backpack.
Tampa’s Interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw expressed satisfaction at the arrest and hoped that the victims might find closure. The suspect is being held in Orient Road Jail and faces charges of armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, armed sexual battery, and aggravated battery with a weapon.