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Neighbors In Shock Over Shooting, Girl's Death

News Channel 8 photo by JOHN WINTERROWD

Police investigate the scene of the overnight shooting at a home 700 block of Preston Avenue S. in St. Petersburg.

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TBO.com Staff

Published: April 5, 2009

Updated: 04/05/2009 11:36 pm

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Paris Whitehead-Hamilton

Stephan Harper

ST. PETERSBURG - Eight-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton was a good little girl who got along with other children in her neighborhood and never caused any trouble, neighbors say.

After her mother died three years ago an aunt took custody of Paris. The aunt, Shenita Joseph, bought Paris something new every week, neighbor Jacquelyn Fleming said.

Fleming and other neighbors were shocked Sunday when they learned someone drove up to Paris' home before dawn and fired 50 or more shots from a semi-automatic rifle.

At least one of those shots hit Paris, possibly as she was moving from her bedroom at the front of the house after the gunfire started, said St. Petersburg Police Chief Charles Harmon.
She died at Bayfront Medical Center.

"It's just devastating," Fleming said. "You just can't sleep now."

On Sunday night, police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting.

Stephan Harper of 731 15th St. S. was charged with first-degree murder. Harper planned and participated in the drive-by shooting, police say. After being questioned by investigators for several hours, he was booked at the Pinellas County Jail.

Police also seized three assault rifles, two shotguns and one bulletproof vest from an apartment at 711 15th St. S. Some of the weapons may have been used in this morning's shooting at 771 Preston Ave. S., detectives say.

Detectives are looking for additional suspects.

Investigators believe the shooting was an act of retaliation in a dispute involving some teenagers and young adults in the Preston Avenue house, Harmon said. Police don't know what the dispute was about.
"This was not a random act," Harmon said this morning. "In the crossfire, this young girl lost her life."
Harmon did not know of any gang connection to the shooting.

Paris' mother died several years ago. Joseph, 42, the girl's aunt and legal guardian, was among nine people in the house at the time of the shooting, Harmon said.

Fleming, the neighbor, said Paris used to visit her house and play with her grandchildren. Fleming used to tease the girl by asking her, "Paris, when are you going back to Paris?"

Alphonso Jenkins was spending the night at his grandmother's house, who lives nearby, when he heard the gunshots.

"I was scared," Jenkins said. "I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know if it was firecrackers or gunshots."

Jenkins said he no longer feels safe and worries about where his grandmother lives.

"That's crazy, man," he said. "Just to come up and shoot somebody's house early in the morning. They probably didn't even know they killed the little girl."

The residents of the Preston Avenue house are helping police, Harmon said.

More officers moved into the neighborhood after the shooting, and Harmon cautioned against any kind of "street justice" that could lead to more deaths.

"There's a lot of anger and resentment on the behalf of some of the folks in this house," Harmon said.
"I'm outraged over this incident," he said. "We're not going to tolerate it.

Anyone with information can call the police department's communication center at (727) 893-7780 or the homicide squad at (727) 893-7164.

Tribune reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report.

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