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Man sought for questioning in slaying of Tampa transgender woman

 
Published July 28, 2015

TAMPA — Hillsborough sheriff's detectives want to question an 18-year-old man about last week's slaying of a transgender woman who was found in a University Area park.

The man they want to question is Keith Lamayne Gaillard, who has an active arrest warrant on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

It is not clear what connection he might have to the victim, India Clarke, 25.

Clarke was found dead July 21 near a playground at the University Area Community Center. Deputies identified the victim by the name she was given at birth, Samuel Elijah Clarke.

No one has been charged in Clarke's death.

Gaillard is believed to be somewhere in the area west of the University of South Florida, deputies said. His last known address was an apartment off Fletcher Avenue.

Deputies said that Gaillard has what they described as an "extensive" criminal history. That history includes three arrests as a juvenile on adult charges of grand theft and marijuana possession, according to records. In June, he was released from the county jail after serving 180 days for grand theft of a motor vehicle, records show.

Anyone with information about Gaillard's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 873-TIPS (8477).