ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A meeting in a St. Petersburg parking lot turned violent last week, leading to the arrest of two young men on charges of attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery.
St. Petersburg Police took 18-year-old Charles Hinton and 22-year-old Christopher Tonsel into custody following a shooting that left another teenager hospitalized.
The incident unfolded on February 11th just before 5 p.m. at the Citrus Grove Apartments. According to investigators, an 18-year-old man and a companion arrived at the 700 block of 15th Street South in a sedan to meet with Hinton and Tonsel.
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The victim was sitting in the front passenger seat when the two suspects climbed into the back of the vehicle.
The situation quickly escalated inside the car. Police reports indicate that shortly after entering the vehicle, Hinton produced a firearm and fired a shot, striking the 18-year-old in the back of the neck. Immediately after the gunfire, both Hinton and Tonsel fled the scene on foot.
In a scramble to find safety, the driver of the sedan sped away from the apartment complex, stopping a block away at a convenience store near 16th Street South to call for help. Emergency responders transported the victim to a nearby hospital.
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Authorities confirmed that despite the location of the wound, the victim is currently in stable condition.
Following an investigation into the afternoon shooting, detectives identified and apprehended Hinton and Tonsel. Both men now face felony charges as the legal process moves forward in Pinellas County.
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