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Clair-Mel Carjack Victim Dies

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

Antonio Middleton, the 27-year-old Tampa man shot during a carjacking Wednesday, died Thursday night at Tampa General Hospital, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Middleton was with his girlfriend Wednesday night and was driving her mother's 1999 Nissan Altima in Clair-Mel City when a person they picked up pulled out a gun, deputies said.

The Altima was found Thursday in Tifton, Ga., behind a convenience store on U.S. 82, about three miles off Interstate 75, Carter says.

Investigators say Middleton knew the shooter, Carter said.

At 9:34 p.m. Wednesday, he drove to 78th Street and Rideout Road to pick someone up, officials said. When the Nissan approached Waikiki Road at Ridein Road, the passenger ordered the girlfriend out.

As she walked away, she told authorities, she heard a "pop." Authorities are not releasing the name of the girlfriend because she is a witness.

Another person reported seeing the passenger push Middleton out of the car and drive away.

Deputies say Middleton was shot in the upper torso.

The shooter is about 6 feet tall and was wearing black clothing and a black hat, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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