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Murder suspect: 'I'm pretty sure one of them is dead'

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Police are investigating a homicide at 8704 N. 13th St.

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By CHIP OSOWSKI | News Channel 8
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2009

Updated: 08/18/2009 08:37 pm

TAMPA - Nishea Magwood walked into River of Grace Ministries, 2801 N. Tampa St., this morning and told staffers he thought he killed his girlfriend, 45-year-old Katrina Locicero, police say. He said a fight got out of hand with his girlfriend and her mother.

He told police, "I'm pretty sure one of them is dead," an arrest report states.

Police went to Magwood's home, 8704 N. 13th St., about 8 a.m. and found Locicero dead of an apparent stab wound. Locicero's mother wasn't hurt.

An investigation is ongoing. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's office will perform Locicero's autopsy. Magwood, 32, has been charged with second-degree murder.

According to police, there have been seven calls for service to the home since 2006, including an assault or battery, two disturbances and two instances of criminal mischief.

Naysh Maih, a neighbor, said he was shocked to learn of the death.

"This is ridiculous," she said. "But as much as the police patrol this area I don't see how something like this could happen. They sit out up on this street every day, all day. How could this happen right up under them?"

The Rev. Ruth Beckman, an associate pastor at River of Grace Ministries, said she was shocked when she heard the news. She said Magwood lived on their campus for several months and then entered a church program that helps people deal with problem situations and teaches how to control anger, temptation and aggression. The program also helps people overcome alcohol and drug abuse, she said.

Magwood left the church and its program five months ago after completing 90 days of the 120 day program, Beckman said. They hadn't heard from him until Tuesday morning, when he contacted church counselors and met with them, Beckman said.

During his time there, he was a quiet and humble man who never got in a conflict, said Beckman, who affectionately called him Shea. The church was formerly known as Abundant Life Ministries.

"It floored everybody," Beckman said. "This isn't Shea's personality. I was devastated; I was heartbroken.''

Magwood was convicted following a January 2008 arrest for robbery by sudden snatching, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cocaine, court records show. He was sentenced in May 2008 to a year and four days behind bars.

Tampa police say they investigated six homicides in the first six months of this year. Today's homicide marks the fifth slaying since July 1.

There's no reason why the number of homicides has picked up in recent weeks, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Investigators can't predict when or where homicides will occur. So Tampa police try to focus on crimes that can be tracked, such as robberies, burglaries, auto burglaries and auto theft. Reducing those crimes can have an indirect impact in reducing violent crime, McElroy said.

Despite the recent increase in homicides, Tampa is still on pace to have fewer slayings this year than in recent years. There were 27 reported homicides in 2008, 28 in 2007, 25 in 2006 and 21 in 2005.

A separate shooting investigation from July isn't considered a homicide at this point and likely will be considered a justifiable shooting instead, McElroy said. That case involved a 72-year-old Tampa man fatally shooting a 37-year-old man he said was trying to break into his apartment. The victim's family said he likely was just outside the apartment trying to spread the word of God.

Reporter José Patiño Girona contributed to this report. Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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