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Slaying Rattles Apartment Residents; No Suspects Yet

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By STEVE KORNACKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2007

TAMPA - Breckenridge Apartment residents are shaken by the killing that occurred within a few steps of them Friday.

"I'd like my son to move out today," said Valerie McCormack of Clearwater, who was visiting her son, Mike, a University of South Florida student, Saturday afternoon. "And I'm not joking. I'm one of those overprotective mothers."

Wesley Aaron Bonham, 28, was found by a roommate at about 6 p.m. Friday with "trauma to his upper torso" inside a common area at complex unit 101 at 14511 Valor Circle, Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter reported Saturday.

It's not clear what caused his injuries, but witnesses in the complex said they heard gunshots. Deputies are investigating the case as a homicide, Carter said, adding that there were no suspects. Police are searching for a leased car Bonham was thought to be driving. It is a black or dark blue 1998 Honda Accord EX with license tag 484-CJI.

"People there need to be very cautious," Carter said. "There is a killer at large. If anybody sees anything suspicious, they should notify police."

Bonham's mother in California was notified by police Saturday afternoon.

"Wes moved here about two months ago," said Mike McCormack. "I play music and he sold me some speakers and a P.A. We did not stay in contact, but he was open and trying to meet new people."

He said Bonham was not a USF student.

Breckenridge Apartments is located less than one mile north of the USF campus, and most of the units are rented by students. Jackie Finch, 21, lives in a unit near where the killing occurred.

"It's pretty scary and it makes me uncomfortable," said Finch, a USF student who learned of the slaying from one of her roommates.

"And she left after telling me," Finch said. "She did not want to stay after that."

Kim Lewis, property manager, said background checks are done on all residents. She issued a release from Scion Group, the Chicago owners of the complex, that read in part: "This appears to be a completely isolated incident ...we extend our sympathies and prayers for the deceased and his family and friends. Breckenridge is arranging on-site counseling support for community members and times will be announced shortly."

Scion Group encourages those in the complex to call the USF Advocacy Center at (813) 974-5757 and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay 24-hour hotline at (813) 234-1234.

Residents live in units that have separate bedroom-bathroom combinations for four residents who share a common kitchen, dining room and living room.

There was no police tape on the unit 101 door Saturday afternoon, but residents said areas were secured by police Friday night and into Saturday morning.

"Cop cars were everywhere when I came home at 8 or 9 last night," said Mike McCormack, who lived above the victim in the three-story brick, stucco and siding-covered unit. "Police interviewed me and others for information. My roommates said they heard two gunshots."

His mother shook her head, adding, "On Sunday, I was at the mall and store where that tragedy in Omaha happened Wednesday. So, it's not been a great week. You don't expect something like that to happen in Omaha, either."

Robert Hawkins shot and killed eight people and himself Wednesday in the Von Maur store at the Westroads Mall in Omaha.

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

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