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Man charged in transgender woman's slaying a person of interest in second Tampa homicide

 
Keith Lamayne Gaillard, 18, is charged with murder in the death of India Clarke.
Keith Lamayne Gaillard, 18, is charged with murder in the death of India Clarke.
Published July 31, 2015

TAMPA — The man accused in last week's shooting death of a transgender woman also is a "person of interest'' in a second slaying that happened Sunday, according to Tampa police.

Keith Lamayne Gaillard, 18, is being held in the Hillsborough County jail on a first-degree murder charge in the death of India Clarke, whose body was found July 21.

Gaillard also is being looked at in the homicide investigation of Tyrone Sean Davis, who was found dead Sunday in Temple Crest Park. Davis' family said they believe he was gay.

"We don't know whether it was a hate crime or what it was," Raymond Davis, his father, said.

"We're hanging in there, we're taking it one day at a time. We knew that justice would be served. We have strong faith."

Davis, 46, lived surrounded by family in San Antonio, a small community in Pasco County. He grew up there and worked at a Cody's restaurant in Wesley Chapel. His obituary noted a nickname, "Maestro," and his passion for singing.

He registered as a sex offender following a 2005 conviction for lewd and lascivious battery on a person less than 16 years old. Police have said they found no connection between his sex offender status and his death.

Gaillard is being held in lieu of $275,000 bail in the slaying of Clarke, 25. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has identified her by the name she was given at birth, Samuel Elijah Clarke. However, she had identified as a female for years.

Last week, she was found with a gunshot wound to her head near a playground at the University Area Community Center park. Her murder drew national attention.

The Sheriff's Office said a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, rented by Clarke, was parked near her body. Inside, detectives found a used condom, scattered paperwork and a cigar wrapper with Gaillard's fingerprint. DNA from the condom and from beneath Clarke's fingernails were matched to Gaillard, sheriff's officials said.

Gaillard turned himself in Wednesday after sheriff's officials announced he was wanted for questioning. He was then arrested in connection with Clarke's death.

No one has been charged in Davis' slaying.

Contact Dan Sullivan at dsullivan@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386. Follow @TimesDan.