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Man Held In '06 Pasco Slayings; Second Man Sought

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By RAY REYES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 25, 2008

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• Pasco Double Murder

Tyree Jenkins

Luc Pierre-Charles

TAMPA - Deputies have arrested a man wanted in connection with the 2006 fatal shooting of two Wesley Chapel teens, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

A second man who deputies say was involved in the slayings was still being sought.

On Thursday, the sheriff's office issued first-degree murder warrants for Tyree Jenkins, 22, of Dade City, and Luc Pierre-Charles, 20, of Wesley Chapel. Jenkins was arrested by Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies Thursday afternoon during a traffic stop at 11931 U.S. 301 N., authorities said.

Jenkins, who was also charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail.

Pierre-Charles is considered armed and dangerous, Pasco sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact local law enforcement immediately.

Derek James Pieper, 17, and his friend Raymond Alphonse Veluz, 18, were found dead July 28, 2006, on a rural dirt road in the Trilby community, northwest of Dade City. The killings of the teens were one of Pasco's most high-profile homicide cases that year.

"Our agency has been working hard on this case during the entire two years," Doll said Thursday. "That hard work has paid off."

The teenagers, who were far from their suburban homes, were shot multiple times, Doll said.

A resident of Harris Hill Road was driving to work when she discovered the two bodies lying side by side about 6 a.m., said Wayne Woodward, a resident who lives nearby.

Woodward's wife thought she heard firecrackers going off just after 5 a.m., he said.

Bryan Pieper said his younger brother's body was found "15 miles in the middle of nowhere," according to a July 31, 2006, story in The Tampa Tribune. Pieper said his brother's generosity may have gotten him in trouble.

"Anybody that needed anything - a ride - he was the first to offer," Pieper said.

Derek Pieper was a member of the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association lacrosse team and was preparing for college, his brother said.

Relatives of Veluz declined to speak with reporters at the time of his death, and the family could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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