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Florida police on the lookout for possible serial killer

By Daniel Uria
Police in Florida believe a serial killer may be on the loose after three people were murdered in a Tampa neighborhood within 10 days. Screenshot: CBS Miami/Inform Inc.
Police in Florida believe a serial killer may be on the loose after three people were murdered in a Tampa neighborhood within 10 days. Screenshot: CBS Miami/Inform Inc.

Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Police in Florida believe a serial killer may be on the loose after a series of three murders in the same neighborhood within the past 10 days.

Anthony Naiboa, 20, became the most recent victim on Thursday after he was shot in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa when he got off the bus at the wrong stop while coming home from his new job.

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The deadly shooting took place a short distance from where Benjamin Mitchell and Monica Hoffa were also shot and killed on Oct. 9 and Oct. 13 respectively.

Crime Stoppers teamed up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

"We have someone who's terrorizing the neighborhood," Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan, told CBS News.

Police released surveillance footage of where the first murder took place and believe the three murders are connected, although it doesn't appear any of the victims knew each other.

"Through the proximity, and the timeframe, they are related," Dugan said. "There is no doubt in our mind about that."

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Mitchell, 22, was shot in front of his Seminole Heights home and later died in the hospital. Hoffa, 32, was found by a city official two days after her death.

Police heard the gunshots that struck Naiboa and found him dead less than 200 yards away from Mitchell's home.

"Our officers heard the gunshots. Our officers found Anthony Naiboa out there. We have a heavy presence and this person, whoever did it, was able to sneak away," Dugan said.

Some residents gathered in the neighborhood on Friday chanting "Whose streets? Our streets!" as police encouraged residents to remain cautious while not being taken hostage by fear in their homes.

"We're not going to be held hostage by whoever is doing this," Dugan said. "We need everyone to come out of their homes at night, turn on their porch lights, and just not tolerate this type of terrorism."

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