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Man shot dead near convenience store in St. Petersburg

 
Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of a homicide on Sunday night in St. Petersburg. A St. Petersburg officer said, “We do have leads that we’re following up on.”
Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of a homicide on Sunday night in St. Petersburg. A St. Petersburg officer said, “We do have leads that we’re following up on.”
Published Nov. 30, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — An 18-year-old man was shot dead Sunday night near a convenience store on 16th Street S, police reported.

At about 7 p.m., St. Petersburg police officers in the vicinity of Johnie's Food Mart heard gunfire. Soon after, they got two calls about a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found 18-year-old Jerrod Evans lying by a dumpster behind the squat building. He had been shot once in the upper body.

Milton Godfrey, a Vietnam and Desert Storm veteran who had been visiting his aunt at her home adjacent to the store's parking lot, said he heard about five gunshots. He saw two people run to the victim, then run away.

"I thought they'd help him, but they took off," Godfrey said. "I just did what my instinct is, to save a life."

Godfrey, of Gulfport, administered CPR until paramedics arrived at the store at 1404 16th Street S. Blood pooled around the young man's shoulder.

Evans was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where he was pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m.

Godfrey said the store was a troublesome spot, and that Evans had looked very young.

"It's something that needs to be changed," he said. "These kids are out of control."

Police said Evans had gotten into an argument with the suspect who shot him.

"We do have leads that we're following up on," said Lt. David Gatlin.

Contact Claire McNeill at cmcneill@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8321.