ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A shooting in Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, resulted in a 14-year-old boy facing first-degree murder charges. The victim, a 39-year-old woman named Leslie Fernandez, was found in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to her upper torso.
The shooting occurred on Thursday, just before 11 a.m., and responding deputies attempted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. Despite medical efforts, Fernandez passed away at the hospital.
The youthful suspect was identified after he was spotted leaving the crime scene on a bicycle. A subsequent search warrant executed at the teen’s home turned up the murder weapon, other firearms, a stockpile of ammunition, a large quantity of drugs, including 3.8kg of cocaine and 53 grams of crack cocaine, and $184,964 in cash.
In an interview with the detectives, the teenager admitted to the random shooting and revealed that the firearm used was obtained from his father’s bedroom.
His father, 37-year-old Jarvis Spencer, was arrested on multiple counts. These counts include being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as armed trafficking of crack cocaine.
Records reveal that Spencer has a history of criminal activity with 15 felony convictions. The authorities noted that he did not respond cooperatively during the investigation. This case is currently ongoing.