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Police Say Words Exchanged Before Fatal Shooting

Tribune photo by NEIL JOHNSON

Police investigate at the scene of the shooting.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

Updated: 01/31/2008 08:05 pm

TAMPA - Police are looking for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man Thursday afternoon in the Belmont Heights Estates neighborhood of Central Tampa after an exchange of words at an intersection.

Police are looking for a black male about 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white, V-neck t-shirt and a blue, zippered jacket.

The suspect was last seen in a light green or teal late-model Jaguar, police said.

According to the Tampa Police Department, the victim, Travis Bruce Cowen of 2603 E. Osborne Ave., reached the intersection in his car the same time the suspect in the Jaguar arrived.

Cowen, the suspect and a passenger in the Jaguar got out of their cars and began yelling, police said.

The suspect and passenger got back in the Jaguar when a back seat passenger jumped out and opened fire about 4:20 p.m.

Cowen was able to run about 20 feet before he collapsed on the front walkway of a duplex at 1701-B E. 25th Ave. He died at the scene.

The Jaguar drove down 17th Street, followed by one of Cowen's friends who jumped in Cowen's car. The friend lost the Jaguar.

Police think multiple shots were fired. As many as nine shell casings were found in the street and detectives dug bullets from the house where Cowen fell, as well as one a half block away.

Friend and mentor James Tolbert, 41, said Cowen, who had just turned 21, was trying to improve his life.

"He stopped all the foolishness. He was doing fine," Tolbert said.

Tolbert used to take Cowen to work on weekends to help install garage doors. Cowen used to call Tolbert "Pops," Tolbert said.

Albert Young, president of the neighborhood association, said the shooters probably did not live nearby.

"More than likely anyone who causes problems comes from outside the neighborhood," Young said.
A meeting of the neighborhood crime watch was just ending about four blocks away when the shooting occurred.

"Some of us heard it but didn't think they were shots," Young said.

Stay with TBO.com for further details.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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