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Suspect In Afternoon Robbery Arrested

News Channel 8

Emergency units respond to the scene.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2007

Updated: 12/14/2007 12:05 am

Video: Office Attacked | Victims Severly Burned

Photos: Pictures Of The Suspect, Victims, Crime Scene

LAKE WALES - While robbing an insurance business Thursday afternoon, a man set fire to two female employees, one of whom was five months' pregnant, according to police. He also shot a man in the face as he tried to help the women.

Leon Davis Jr.

Around 7 p.m. Thursday, the suspect, Leon Davis Jr., turned him in at a sheriff's substation, authorities reported. The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. inside the Nationwide insurance agency at 124 W. Central Ave., police said. The robber entered the business, demanded money from the two female employees and then splashed gasoline on them when he was not satisfied what he got, police said.

Both women, with burns over 90 percent of their bodies, were flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center's burn unit. The man, whose gunshot wound was not considered life threatening, was taken by ambulance to Lake Wales Medical Center, police said.

Relatives of the pregnant burn victim told News Channel 8 that the 28-week unborn child was taken from the mother via Caesarian section. The condition of the baby was unknown. The women, who are sisters-in-law, were in critical condition, family members said. Police identified the victims as Yvonne Bustamonte, 23, and Jane Bustamonte, 26, the pregnant woman.

The gunshot victim was identified as Brandon Griessman, 33. None of the victims' hometowns were available.

Police said a witness at the insurance agency recognized Davis and identified him as a former customer. Davis, who turns 30 today is five months into a three-year probation term.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal records show that Davis, 851 Summer Glen Drive, Winter Haven, was sentenced to probation in July in Polk County after pleading guilty to six counts of grand theft.

On Nov. 30, Polk County sheriff's deputies arrested Davis on a charge of grand theft. He was released three days later after posting $5,000 bail. There was no record on the jail's Web site that showed whether violation of probation charges were filed.

"Our hearts are saddened by the tragic incident Thursday afternoon at our local agent's office in Lake Wales," said a prepared statement sent out by Nationwide spokesman Joe Case.

"Nationwide is reaching out to the victims and their families to assist in any way we can," he said. "Their well-being is first and foremost in our minds. We are also doing all we can to assist law enforcement in their investigation of the incident."

"I've worked in this business for thirteen years and not seen or heard of anything like this in my career here," Lake Wales police Capt. Troy Schulze said. "I've never seen anything come close to this, violence-wise. It was heartless, absolutely heartless, for someone to do something like this."

Scott Headley, the owner of the Nationwide office, was distraught over the incident.

"I can't imagine someone can do something so cruel," he said.

Griessman was expected to undergo corrective surgery.

Davis, an Eagle Lake city employee, was suspended from his job after the most recent theft charge, police said. It was not known what he did for the city.

Charges had not been filed as of Thursday night, but police said they expected he would be charged with three counts of attempted murder and arson.

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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