Slaying linked to feud in St. Petersburg, residents fear

ST. PETERSBURG — One young man is dead and another is in jail after a Saturday night shooting that may be linked to an ongoing vendetta between teens from the Childs Park and Harbordale neighborhoods.

About 10 p.m., Levaud Landers was in front of 2411 Eighth St. S, just a block from where Deandre "Squirrel" Brown was shot and killed a year ago next week.

Police released few details Sunday, but Lenorak Keels, 17, is accused of shooting Landers once in the head with a handgun. The two St. Petersburg residents had earlier been involved in a verbal dispute, police said.

Keels fled but was captured hours later and charged with attempted murder, police said. Landers, 18, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where he died Sunday afternoon. Police did not say whether Keels will be charged in his death.

Though police have yet to discuss a connection, some residents of the area think the Landers shooting is connected to Brown's killing March 24, and to the ongoing Childs Park/Harbordale feud.

A drive-by shooter took Brown's life with a bullet to the heart. Police charged two teens — Tyree Jamel Gland, accused of being the gunman, and Raymond Adams, thought to be the driver — in Brown's death.

Lattia Morehead, Brown's aunt, said her nephew and Landers ran in the same crowd. Since Brown's killing, a schism has remained, she said, between Harbordale kids like her nephew and Landers, and Childs Park kids.

The Harbordale neighborhood lies between 22nd and 30th avenues S and Fourth and Ninth streets S. Childs Park is between First and 18th avenues S and 34th and 49th streets S.

"We'd been fearing something would happen, and it did," said Morehead, 29. "And more is going to happen."

Deandre Brown's mother said she has no evidence that the quarrel between the two camps took both her son and Landers, but her instincts tell her it has.

"It's ridiculous and I wish it would stop," said Jacqueline Morehead, 35. "I'm sick of it."

Comments on this article

by ERIN W	Mar 19, 2008 4:41 PM
MY COMMENT IS THAT I BELEAVE THEY SHOULD HAVE JUST SQASHED IT MR KEELS SHOULD NOT HAVE SHOT A GUN FROM THE START AND MY FRIEND WOULD STILL BE HEAR I MISS LEVAUD SO MUCH,LEVAUD BROTHER JODOIR LANDERS IS MY BEST FRIEND AND I HATE SEEING HIM LIKE THIS!

by Rip Levaud	Mar 19, 2008 10:18 AM
he already gone.. let him rest n peace.. 03-18-08.. we gone miss you vaud

by ann	Mar 19, 2008 9:14 AM
like chris rock say's if you can' control the guns then start charging by the bullet. 500.00 Dollars a bullet will cause some people to think. bullets are so cheap. really though young wannabee adults do no understand this is not TV.you die

by Anne	Mar 18, 2008 8:43 AM
The comment that Parent's aren't allowed to discipline their children says it all. Parents that know no problem solving methods beyond violence and thus they don't discipline at all have raise kids that believe violence is the only o

by jay	Mar 18, 2008 8:40 AM
I know for a fact that these kids learned these behaviors from adults in there life

by J	Mar 17, 2008 5:29 PM
Look at what Ms. B says below. Parents, come on now. Seriously

by Peggy	Mar 17, 2008 5:24 PM
Parent, get off your butts and bring your kids home and keep them there, no lame excuses

by Breanna	Mar 17, 2008 3:28 PM
i know both of them it is sad to see one gone and one jail i will miss von the most

by Gilbert	Mar 17, 2008 3:28 PM
This should fan the flames FOR executing teenagers. Obviously, the judicial system is reluctant to do so! My heart goes out to the families, that have lost a child to senseless acts of violence. The parents are no better, they could've intervene

by Gilbert	Mar 17, 2008 3:25 PM
This should fan the flames FOR executing teenagers. Obviously, the judicial system is reluctant to do so! My heart goes out to the families, that have lost a child to senseless acts of violence. The parents are no better, they could've intervene

by rip vod	Mar 17, 2008 3:14 PM
first of all it dosent matter about about the parent his mother just died a year ago it has nothin to do with home traing

by Tony	Mar 17, 2008 3:08 PM
These kids kill for revenge. Most of them have never been taught that's it wrong or their "friends" say that nothing will happen to them since they are juvies. It WILL come back to haunt these kids. Then again, maybe there is no consci

by Tony	Mar 17, 2008 3:04 PM
Until these kids realize there is more to life than revenge these killings will not stop. This not about future opportunity. It's about what's right and wrong and these kids think revenge is right.

by A RELATIVE OF THE TEEN	Mar 17, 2008 2:42 PM
U CANT CONTROL A KID IF U CANT DECIPLINE THEM. THEY KNOE THAT THEY CAN CALL THE POLICE ON YOU. AND THE VICTIM WAS 18 YEARS OLD U CANT TELL A MAN WHAT TO DAMN DO. STOP BLAMING THESE DAMN PARENTS AND BLAME THE LAW.

by kitty	Mar 17, 2008 2:38 PM
I don't understand the problem between the two n'hoods. It's not like they share a common border. Someone would have to get into a car and drive quite a distance from one neighborhood to the other in order to start trouble.

by Pete	Mar 17, 2008 2:16 PM
It begins with the young mothers. Stop having kids by different men. Keep the family together. Raise kids together, not 1 kid each from 4 different men. Your black society has broken down. Stand strong, black sisters. Come back to morality.

by MS. B.	Mar 17, 2008 2:16 PM
MY THING IS DISCIPLINE WHILE IN THE PLAY PEN OR THEY'LL END UP IN THE STATE PEN OR WHAT DEAD, THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE RESPECT IS GONE. IT ALL STARTS AT HOME.

by Oh really??????	Mar 17, 2008 1:58 PM
The problem is not the parents. The problem is that standard parental methods of discipline have been taken away by the government and are now considered to be child abuse. The problem is the lack of consequences for bad behavior.

by Marvin	Mar 17, 2008 1:57 PM
This is an unfortunate and untimely death, due to kids trying to be something they are not. the solution to this problem is...PRAYER. We must pray for our kids. The bible reads, if my people would humble themselves and turn from wicked ways and pray.

by shay	Mar 17, 2008 1:52 PM
man i knew the boy lavaud and he always was a sweet and manerable person i dont think he started or wanted to go with the fight i also think he didnt have any weapons so who ever shot and killed someone very spacial should be charged

by David	Mar 17, 2008 1:52 PM
I agree with E.C. -- a curfew is definitely in order. Idle minds are the devil's playground, and these minds have about a 6th grade maturity level. No nuclear family is the downfall of these neighborhoods. Violence is the byproduct

by Harbordale resident	Mar 17, 2008 1:51 PM
Very good idea E.C.! Harbordale is full of gangsta wannabees. The parents don't care or are gangstas themselves. Cannot expect the Police to raise your children. Curfew yes and fine the parents.

by art	Mar 17, 2008 1:50 PM
This is why people look on the southside a certian way; show yourselves some respect and stop shooting each other and selling one another crack. peace~

by Harbordale resident	Mar 17, 2008 1:50 PM
Not sure what can be done. The south side has been left as a DMZ since the race riots. Alot of the blame can go to the parents. Spend time with your children teach them wrong from right and punish them for doing wrong.

by Friend of Peace	Mar 17, 2008 1:50 PM
Unfortunately it does not appear these murders are having an effect on improving parenting in the area. Teens are still allowed to roam the streets until the late hours without a parent in sight(even on weeknights). What do they expect?

by R	Mar 17, 2008 1:49 PM
Childs Park does not start until 5th Ave. S. Please check your facts.

by Rob	Mar 17, 2008 1:46 PM
You really shouldn't comment on the situation unless your willing to do something to change the outcome. Rest in peace Levaud! My condolences go out to the family.

by Anton	Mar 17, 2008 1:45 PM
Genocide by its own young people.

by Scott	Mar 17, 2008 1:44 PM
Uhuru will get involved when the police have to shoot one of these punks...

by harbordale resident	Mar 17, 2008 1:42 PM
How are these children getting guns ? Where are the parents ? If you know your child is "running" with an unseedy element it is YOUR duty to parent. Keep killing each other and the problem will resolve itself.......

by why	Mar 17, 2008 1:42 PM
well if you let parents be parents and these kida with there pants hanging off there butts fine them and put police on the streets walking not just in jordan parkall neghborohoods

by Not surprised	Mar 17, 2008 1:40 PM
Again, where are the Uhurus in all of this. They rant and rave but young men are killing each other. Let an officer be involved and the Uhurus come out in force blaming the police for the problems. They now have a new building so it doesn't ma

by Mercedes Martin	Mar 17, 2008 1:39 PM
I Think Thiks Is Sad, Very sad At That. This Is The Second Cousin I Lost To gun Violence And Both Are Dear To My Heart. Someone The State Of Florida Need To Get This Issue Under Control. I Mean The Man No To Long Ago Lost His Mother, Now His Life. Ik

by E.C.	Mar 17, 2008 10:31 AM
A curfew law is in order. The problem is parents who let kids run the streets wild and stay out until sunrise. Residents are held hostage by teens who have guns, sell drugs, and use car stereos afixed to the outside of the car to harass homeowners.

by Hmmmmm	Mar 17, 2008 10:27 AM
Where are the Uhuru movement when you need them? Stop selling bean pies and talk to these kids!