St. Petersburg police arrest 19-year-old in hit-and-run death

ST. PETERSBURG — Two months after a 74-year-old grandfather was killed by a hit-and-run driver, police arrested a St. Petersburg man Wednesday and charged him with the crime.

Lorenzo Jamar Lynch, 19, was arrested after a brief chase at about 7 p.m. near Second Avenue S and 35th Street, according to St. Petersburg police spokesman Mike Puetz.

On Aug. 1, police said, Lynch was driving his girlfriend's car without a license when he ran a red light and rammed another vehicle. Michael Cerone, who was not wearing a seat belt, was sent flying from his car. He died two days later in a hospital. Lynch fled the scene on foot, leaving a trail of blood, police said.

Cerone's family spent hours handing out fliers asking for help finding Lynch, and even hired a banner plane to spread the message.

Lynch is being charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, driving with a suspended license and causing death, violation of probation for burglary and marijuana possession with intent to sell.