Crime & Safety
Man Charged in Overnight Shooting
A Port Richey man is charged with second degree murder following an overnight robbery and shooting during a drug deal in St. Petersburg, police say.
One man died and two others were injured in an overnight shooting on the 4300 block of 21st Street North, police said. It happened just before 2 a.m. Friday.
Less than 24 hours after the shooting, police arrested Hayward Conrad Hopkins, 30, of Port Richey.
According to St. Petersburg Police, Hayward Conrad Hopkins and Daniel Brown III, 29, went to the home for a drug deal when the two attempted to rob Ryan Jaeger, 21, and Charles Hernandez, 23.
Jaeger was armed and shot back, according to reports.
Both Jaeger and Hernandez were found on the property with gunshot injuries. The two are hospitalized and in stable condition, police say.
Daniel Brown III did not survive the shootings, police say.
Hopkins managed to flee the scene unharmed and was arrested without incident by the Violent Crime Task Force and U.S. Marshals Service around 11:15 Friday night, according to reports.
According to police, Hopkins was engaged in the attempt to perpetrate a robbery which resulted in the death of Brown, he is being charged under the felony murder rule with second degree murder.
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