News Release

Pinellas Park Police Department

Teen Shot and Killed in Apparent Home Invasion

Report # 2008-33822

On Thursday, December 18, 2008, at around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim at a residence located at 4860 81 Avenue North, Pinellas Park.  Upon arrival officers found several subjects near the front of the residence who reported that the victim was in the house.  Officers quickly cleared the residence and found the victim in a bedroom.  He was critically injured and the officers began to apply first aid while other officers checked the rest of the residence for any potential threats and victims.

Paramedics, who had responded with the initial call, were brought in to treat the victim.  The victim was transported by ground to Northside Hospital where he died a short time later. 

Initial reports indicated that two to three suspects encountered the victim near the front of, or just inside, the residence and at least one shot was fired.  Witnesses report two the three suspects fleeing the scene.  At this stage investigators know that at least one suspect was in the home and threatening the occupants when the victim was shot.  The suspect fled to a car stopped along 81 Avenue which then went west to 49 Street.  The victim lived at the residence with his mother, younger sister, and uncle.  The other 3 people in the home were friends.

The suspect description is:

Dark skinned, black male, around 6 feet 2 inches tall and 200 pounds, wearing a silver "Hoodie" sweatshirt pulled over his head and armed with an unknown type of handgun.

The car is described as a silver 1991 to 1995 Honda Civic or Accord 2 door with dark tinted windows and a loud exhaust.

The victim has been identified as:

Jeremy Lamar Long, a 16-year old black male, DOB/08-21-1992.   He was a student at Richard L Sanders in Pinellas Park.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Pinellas at 1-800-873-TIPS or via http://www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org/  to be eligible for a reward while remaining anonymous.

Released by: Lieutenant Paul J. Andrews, PIO