By Rodney Thrash, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
CLEARWATER — A 22-year-old St. Petersburg man has been arrested in connection with a July 15 shooting at a Clearwater motel, authorities said Tuesday.
Clearwater Police didn't have to look far for Jhaphelix Robinson, who now faces a charge of first-degree attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm.
He was already at the Pinellas County Jail on unrelated marijuana and theft charges when detectives located him on Friday, police spokeswoman Beth Watts said.
According to Watts, Robinson and the victim, Drayton Bonney, were staying in separate rooms at the Economy Inn on Cleveland Street this past July.
Robinson and an unidentified friend went to Bonney's room to deliver drug paraphernalia. Police don't know why, but Robinson pulled a .45 caliber semiautomatic from his waistband and shot Bonney, 25, of Clearwater.
Bonney was seriously injured but survived.
Watts said a witness identified Robinson as the shooter. She would not say when the witness came forward.
"A thorough investigation has many components that take an undetermined amount of time — gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, following any potential leads, and locating the suspect once one has been identified," Watts said.