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Arrest Made In Carjack Killing

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

A carjacking that ended with a Tampa man shot in the back of his head began as a drug deal between two men who knew one another, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Authorities on Saturday arrested a Georgia man in connection with the crime, Carter said. Jimmie Darrie Means, 21, of Sylvester, Ga., was charged with first degree murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Investigators say he shot Antonio Middleton, 27, on Wednesday during a carjacking in Clair-Mel City. Middleton died Thursday night at Tampa General Hospital, Carter said.

Middleton was with his girlfriend Wednesday night and was driving her mother's 1999 Nissan Altima 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 said.

"Middleton had arranged a drug deal with the suspect," Carter said in a news release.

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

As she walked away, the woman told authorities, she heard a "pop." Investigators have not released her name because she is a witness.

Means shot Middleton once in the back of the head, Carter said.

"Means then pulled the victim from the vehicle and removed more than $300 from the victim's pockets," she said.

After the car was found, Hillsborough detectives went to Tift County, Ga., and, with the help of local authorities there, found the handgun believed to have been used in the crime inside a storm drain.

Means was identified as a suspect was identified and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Authorities took him into custody Saturday morning at his home in Sylvester, Ga.

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

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