He’s not your typical serial killer, experts say. ‘He used a firearm’

Aside from a grainy surveillance video of a person walking, there are few clues about the serial killer roaming the streets of a small neighborhood in Tampa.

In less than two weeks, three people were shot to death within the tight-knit Seminole Heights community.

The murders — which all occurred within a mile from each other — are believed to be connected, Tampa police said. They have asked people to stay inside at night.

The three victims shot to death were 22-year-old Benjamin Edward Mitchell, 32-year-old Monica Caridad Hoffa and 20-year-old Anthony Naiboa.

In a recently released video shot from a neighboring home, a person in a hoodie is seen strolling down a sidewalk with what appears to be phone in his hand. Detectives deemed the person “suspicious” because he or she was near where the shooting occurred around the same time as the first killing.

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, experts weighed in on the unknown killer, saying that the killings may be rooted in anger, not sexual desire, and that the person is probably a man, age 21 to 35.

“If we are talking about one killer, then we are talking about a serial killer in Tampa,” criminologist Jack Levin told the Times. “However, he does differ from the typical serial killer in a very important way: He used a firearm.”

Other experts concurred that the murderer is probably young, in his 20s, and perhaps a member of a racial or ethnic minority —and whoever committed them likely lives close by, possibly even in Seminole Heights. So far, the murderer seems to ambush victims, coming on them abruptly with a gun.

It's possible the killings could even be gang activity or an initiation ritual.

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Police are asking that anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS.

This story was originally published October 23, 2017 at 10:13 AM with the headline "He’s not your typical serial killer, experts say. ‘He used a firearm’."