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2 Hectored Brandon Area With Pellet Guns, Deputies Say

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Two teenagers used pellet guns to shoot pedestrians, vehicles and structures in the Fishhawk Ranch and Bloomingdale areas Wednesday before being tracked down by one of their victims, Hillsborough County deputies say.

They shot two people, three homes and nine vehicles, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Anthony Ray Lopez and Jacob Samuel Bloom

Deputies arrested Jacob Samuel Bloom, 18, of Valrico and Anthony Ray Lopez, 17, of Lithia at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lithia Pinecrest Road and Bloomingdale Avenue after a 14-year-old victim from Valrico and his father tracked them down.

Bloom and Lopez fired pellet guns from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. They caused about $5,000 damage by shooting out windows or breaking mirrors in vehicles including a Kia and a Chevrolet truck, Carter said. They also caused about $1,000 damage to homes by shooting windows and a front door.

One of their victims, Kyle Knapp, was shot in the left arm and back at Culbreath Road and Nature's Way Boulevard in Valrico. He went home and told his father, Michael.

The Knapps rode around the area looking for the truck of the people who fired at Kyle and found what they thought to be the vehicle, a Nissan Titan, outside a gym, Carter said. The Knapps called for help and stayed until deputies arrived.

They told deputies they saw Bloom and Lopez toss pellet guns into bushes.

Bloom and Lopez each were charged with 11 counts of criminal mischief, two counts of aggravated battery and one count of felony criminal mischief.

Bloom, of 4701 Lina Court, was held in jail on $22,000 bail. He has since been released.

Lopez, of 5603 Hawk Lake Road, was booked into a juvenile assessment center. Details on his status aren't available.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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