Hillsborough boy, 16, arrested in 2022 Brandon murder

A Hillsborough teenager faces a murder charge for his role in a 2022 robbery-homicide at a Brandon apartment complex, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday.

Deputies arrested Tony Shepard Jr., 16, Tuesday after detectives obtained a search warrant for his home and said they seized drugs, weapons and cash.

Shepard is the fourth and final suspect arrested in a Nov. 23, 2022, homicide that prosecutors say was part of a failed robbery attempt during a drug deal. It ended with the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy.

Deputies responded around 8:20 p.m. that evening to several calls about a shooting near the Lakewood Place apartment complex, 1701 Lake Chapman Drive. The complex is located off Lakewood Drive, just north of West Brandon Boulevard. Officers arrived to find the teen in the driver's seat of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrest report states. He was shot in the neck and died from his injuries.

The sheriff's office has not released the boy's name.

Last year, three other Hillsborough teens were charged in connection with the shooting: Jamerius Bennefield, 17, Jyi'Keem Henry, 16, and Demitrus Bailey, 17. Shepard was identified as their driver, according to the sheriff's office.

In addition to first-degree murder, Shepard faces charges of being a minor in possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, armed possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and carrying a concealed firearm.

“This investigation highlights the tireless efforts of our detectives to ensure victims and their families get justice, no matter how long it takes,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones. We hope this will help them gain closure, knowing that justice will be served. »