HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County deputies arrested three men they say planned a robbery on an undercover detective.
The undercover deputy was buying crack and a gun from the trio when one of them, 21-year-old Deontavius Moore, held a gun to his head. Other deputies responded to rescue the deputy. They arrested 20-year-old Zaytawnn Shaw and 47-year-old Marcellus Williams on the scene. Moore was found 2 days later.
The crime happened at a convenience store on Melburne Boulevard near North 48th Street on November 15. The deputy had purchased crack from the men twice before. He purchased a gun on one occasion as well.
“It’s almost like a revolving door with these guns and we have to shut it. The deputies and detectives are doing everything we can,” Major Frank Losat, HCSO, said.
For more than a year, the Sheriff’s Office has been trying to buy guns when purchasing drugs undercover.
Major Losat saying it’s too easy for criminals to get guns on the street.
In fact, Moore was just released from prison in September. He did time for gun, burglary and grand theft charges.
When asked how easy it would be for a criminal to get a weapon when released from prison, Major Losat didn’t hesitate.
“If he has the right contacts, probably a couple of hours, a few hours, he can have access to a gun.”
It’s not clear where the guns came from in this case, but the sheriff’s office says a large amount of the weapons they see now come from burglaries of unlocked cars and homes.
Major Losat says the public could help by properly securing their weapons.
