A Hillsborough County man is accused of shooting his two young kids in the head minutes after tucking them into bed, murdering one and seriously injuring the other.
The 5-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy were gunned down at a residence in the Armature Gate Townhomes, located in the 13000 block of Heritage Club Drive, at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, according to authorities.
The children’s mom had hustled home from dinner to tuck them into bed, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. She kissed them goodnight and then went to the bathroom, leaving them in the bedroom with their dad, Jermaine Lavanda Bass.
When the mother was in the restroom, she heard several gunshots. She dashed outside, where she discovered her neighbor on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. Chronister stated that she grabbed his phone to call the dispatcher, and that Bass then came out of their home with their 8-year-old child and told them to call 911.
Deputies arrived at the house and found Bass cradling the child in his arms. He claimed that his gun accidentally discharged and he shot his son.
When asked if there was anyone else in the house, Bass said his 5-year-old daughter was sleeping upstairs. When deputies arrived at her bedroom, they discovered the little girl laying on the top bunk in a puddle of blood, according to Chronister.
Both kids had been shot in the head, according to Chronister.
“You don’t accidentally shoot your children three to four times in the head,” the sheriff said.
The kids were hustled to Tampa General Hospital, where the 5-year-old was declared dead and the 8-year-old is categorized in critical condition, according to Chronister.
Bass was charged with first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm, first-degree attempted murder with a firearm, and aggravated child abuse.
Chronister stated that he had no criminal record.
