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Tampa man shot to death while trying to pull off robbery

 
Erika Sanez, 20, admitted her role to authorities.
Erika Sanez, 20, admitted her role to authorities.
Published Dec. 4, 2013

TAMPA — A Tampa man who was part of a robbery setup was shot to death early Friday by the intended victim and a Pinellas County woman was charged with murder for taking part in the plan, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Erika T. Sanez had met Travis Weller about a month ago and arranged a date. Sanez met Weller at a different location before taking him to a vacant home near W Linebaugh Avenue and the Veterans Expressway. Outside the home at 8903 Plum Grove Court, three men were waiting for Weller, according to the Sheriff's Office.

When they tried to rob him, Weller opened fire. One of the bullets hit, Marlin Walker, 20, once in the chest. Weller called 911, telling a dispatcher that several people had tried to rob him and he had shot one of them. Weller, 22, of North Tampa, stayed at the scene until sheriff's deputies arrived.

Sanez brought Walker to nearby Town & Country Hospital around 4:40 a.m., where he died from a single gunshot wound to the upper chest, the Sheriff's Office said.

During an interview with detectives, Sanez admitted to her role in the robbery setup. She also was identified by Weller. Sanez, 20, of 5925 72nd Ave. in Pinellas Park, is a student, according to an arrest report. She was being held in the Hillsborough County jail Friday with no bail on a charge of second-degree murder.

Detectives were working Friday to identify the other two suspects.

Walker, 20, of 210 E 23rd Ave., had several prior arrests.

At age 11, he was charged with burglary and larceny, state records show. He also had other arrests as a juvenile and adult on charges that included burglary, larceny, possession of burglary tools and violation of probation.

Sanez's record includes a 2010 guilty plea in a burglary case when she was a juvenile, according to state records.

This story has been edited to include the following correction: A Nov. 28 robbery and shooting took place outside a home on Plum Grove Court in Hillsborough County. A story published Saturday said the incident took place elsewhere on the property.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Jimmy Geurts can be reached at (813) 226-3402 or jgeurts@tampabay.com.