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2 arrested in fatal shooting of St. Pete teenager

Staff photo by RUGENE MOORE

St. Petersburg police investigate the scene where a person was shot and killed early this morning.

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8
and STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2009

Updated: 09/30/2009 03:53 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - Police have arrested two 18-year-old men in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man in a convenience store parking lot early today.

At about 3:15 a.m., Hector William Pena III of Naples fired at Marquise T. Pennywell from the front passenger seat of a black Ford Escape in the parking lot at Snax 24, 1755 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S., said St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt.

In the driver's seat was Dontavious Marquel Sparrow of Fort Myers.

Pennywell was shot multiple times in the upper body and was rushed to an area hospital, where he died a little more than an hour later, police have said. He was among a group of people, but was the only one hit, Proffitt said.

Pena was charged with one count of second-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. Sparrow was charged with being the principal in a case of second-degree murder and with being the principal in four cases of attempted murder.

Pennywell and several friends argued with Pena and Sparrow in the parking lot, and Pena pulled a gun and shot Pennywell, Proffitt said.

Witnesses cooperated with police, and a grid-style search was set up after the shooting, Proffitt said. The suspected sport utility vehicle was found at 2104 Fourth St. S., and Pena and Sparrow were inside – one downstairs and one hiding in the attic, Proffitt said. Four weapons have been recovered, and the two were arrested after they were interviewed at the station by investigators.

The victim's sister, Iesha Coleman, said Pennywell was studying to be a plumber and had not been in trouble before.

"I never thought he would be shot," Coleman said. "I never thought anybody would want to kill him."

"I just want to know why," she said. "What happened?"

She said she did not know what her brother was doing at a convenience store at 3 a.m.

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