A 39-year-old Cuban woman who had arrived in the United States earlier this year under a humanitarian parole program tragically died this week after being randomly shot by a 14-year-old who had stolen a gun from his father in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida.
A police statement reveals that on July 25, at approximately 10:52 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire and a woman lying on the street at the intersection of 27th Street North and 59th Avenue North in the western Florida city. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, Leslie Torres Fernández, face down on the street with apparent gunshot wounds to her upper body.
Officers attempted to save her life until the fire department arrived and transported her to the hospital. However, the Cuban woman was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Jaevion Darrell Harvey, 14, who was captured on security cameras fleeing the area on his bicycle after the shooting. On Friday, authorities executed a search warrant at Harvey's residence, located near the scene of the incident.
During the search, detectives found a firearm confirmed to have been used in the shooting, along with numerous other firearms, large quantities of ammunition, 3.8 kilograms of cocaine, 53 grams of crack, 3 grams of MDMA, and $184,964 in U.S. currency. When detectives interviewed Harvey, he confessed to randomly shooting Leslie Torres Fernández.
According to crime reporter Niover Licea, the woman was originally from Candelaria, a municipality in the province of Artemisa, and had arrived in the United States in January through the humanitarian parole program.
During the investigation, the teenager informed detectives that he had taken the firearm from his father Jarvis Armand Spencer's bedroom. The father has a lengthy criminal history, including 15 felony convictions, while his son now faces a first-degree murder charge.
Authorities announced the arrests of both suspects and confirmed the teenager's confession. The father, who did not cooperate with detectives, was arrested and charged with seven counts of illegal firearm possession, one count of illegal ammunition possession, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, armed trafficking of crack, armed trafficking of powdered cocaine, and grand theft of a firearm.
As of the closing of this report, no further details have been released about the tragic incident that abruptly ended the dreams of a newly arrived Cuban immigrant.
Details Surrounding the Tragic Shooting in Florida
For those seeking more information about this tragic event, we have compiled some frequently asked questions and their answers below:
Who was the victim of the shooting?
The victim was Leslie Torres Fernández, a 39-year-old Cuban woman who had arrived in the United States earlier this year under a humanitarian parole program.
What led to the shooting?
The shooting was a random act carried out by 14-year-old Jaevion Darrell Harvey, who had stolen a gun from his father's bedroom.
What charges are the suspects facing?
Jaevion Darrell Harvey is facing a first-degree murder charge, while his father, Jarvis Armand Spencer, is facing multiple charges including illegal firearm possession and armed drug trafficking.