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Mom, Teen Son Shot Dead; Daughter, 18, Wounded

A cell phone picture shows Laurier Myrick Jr smiling. Myrick, 17, was shot and killed early Tuesday morning. His sister, Jessica Myrick, 18, is in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital.

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2008

Updated: 03/11/2008 04:26 pm

TAMPA Untouched by the gunfire that hurt her mother and killed her uncle and grandmother, a 6-month-old baby was cradled in the arms of shocked relatives this morning in north Tampa.

Shots were reported at about 2 a.m. at a north Tampa apartment, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Deputies found two people dead in a second-floor dwelling in the Camelot Apartments, 13135 N.19th St.

Relatives said Susan Newsome, 36, and her son, Laurier Myrick Jr., 17, were shot to death. Newsome's 18-year-old daughter, Jessica Myrick, was shot once in the shoulder and twice in the stomach, relatives said.

Newsome's youngest daughter, 6-month Janija, was in the home but was not hurt. Family said Jessica Myrick remained stable at St. Joseph's Hospital but was sedated and unable to talk.

Details on the shooting remain scant and no one has been arrested. Investigators have not released information about a suspect or a motive.

For hours, relatives and friends stood behind yellow crime scene tape, watching as detectives gathered evidence. Many in the crowd shook their heads and cried out, struggling to understand what happened to loved ones they'd seen smiling a day ago.

Laurier Myrick Sr. and Newsome are divorced. Looking over the crime scene tape with red eyes, the father said he would not break down until he saw his son carried out.

Vickie Myrick, Myrick Sr.'s sister and the teen victims' aunt, said someone came to a cousin's home before the shooting looking for a person named Kilo. When it was determined Kilo wasn't at the cousin's home, the person went to Newsome's home looking for Kilo.

Newsome and her two children moved into the second floor apartment about a month ago, relatives said.

Jessica Myrick has another daughter, 3-year-old Kevia. Kevia was at a friend's home at the time of the shooting, relatives said.

Laurier Myrick Jr. was getting ready to go to Job Corps for training, and Jessica Myrick had considered going to nursing school, stepmother Francine Myrick said. She last saw them on Sunday.

"I don't know what was going on in that house, but when they came to ours, they were happy," Francine Myrick said.

The family had no life insurance but does have medical insurance for Jessica, Francine Myrick said.

"It's quite stunning," Francine Myrick said, watching her husband. "I'm waiting for him to break down any minute. We need the support of the community. We need to find out who did this."

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this report. Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at mwells@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7839.

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