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Police: Deadly St. Pete home invasion possibly drug-related

Staff photo by CHIP OSOWSKI

St. Petersburg police are investigating a deadly home invasion and robbery in the 2100 hundred block of Hampton Drive North.

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By CHIP OSOWSKI | News Channel 8
and STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2009

Updated: 10/01/2009 12:14 pm

Related Links

• Database: Bay area homicides

Justin Green

ST. PETERSBURG - Authorities have identified the victim of this morning's deadly home invasion as 27-year-old Justin D. Green.

Three armed men who had their faces covered broke into Green's home in the 2100 block of Hampton Drive North about 3 a.m. and shot him, St. Petersburg police Detective Gary Gibson said.

The incident had drug overtones, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Green, who was shot in the upper body, was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been released from prison in July after serving slightly more than a nine-year sentence stemming from a string of armed burglaries, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

He had been living at the house with his twin brother and was babysitting his niece when the trio burst in, Proffitt said.

Green's brother and four other people drove up during the home invasion, and two of the armed men robbed them at gunpoint outside the home, Proffitt said.

While they were being robbed, they heard a gunshot from inside the home, police said. The gunman who had been inside then came out, and he and his accomplices ran to a nearby vehicle which was then heard speeding away, police said.

The suspects have not been identified.

Police have not said what was stolen from the home. It did not appear to be a random attack, police said.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

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