St. Petersburg police released more details yesterday on the arrest of Jennifer Mee, for the murder of Shannon A. Griffin, 22 years. Known as “Hiccup Girl”, Mee along with two other suspects, Lamont A. Newton, 22, and Laron C. Raiford, 20, with whom she lived have also been arrested and charged with first degree murder.
Police said that a “resident refused” call was received around 11:04 pm last Saturday night from a citizen who saw a man “sleeping in the back” outside a vacant house at 511 7th Street North. When police arrived at the scene they determined that the man was dead and had sustained three gunshot wounds to his chest and one gunshot wound to his shoulder.
The victim was identified as Shannon A. Griffin, 22, whom detectives said had relocated from the Mississippi Gulf Coast area and was living with family at 9100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North. Griffin had worked at a Walmart in the St. Petersburg area for about one year, police said.
Homicide investigators said that Griffin had befriended Jennifer Mee while online at a social networking site sometime in the last week. A few days ago, they began talking on the telephone and agreed to meet together for the first time on Saturday night. Police would not say on which social networking site Griffin and Mee met.
Detectives said that Griffin’s family described him as an introvert who spent a lot of time on the Internet. Griffin had told at least one family member that he was excited about the prospect of meeting a girl.
Police said that Mee, along with Newton and Raiford planned to rob Griffin when he arrived at the meeting location. Detectives are not clear yet what Mee promised to lure Griffin to the vacant house.
Once at the scene, Griffin was robbed of his wallet, a small amount of cash, his cell phone and the keys to the motor scooter that he rode to the house, police said.
Preliminary information and evidence in the case indicated a physical struggle took place during the robbery. Detectives also said that Mee was aware that a gun was to be used in the robbery, although they would not say who actually pulled the trigger and killed Griffin.
On Sunday October 24, at about 1:00 p.m., Homicide Investigators received an anonymous tip that one of the suspects, Jennifer Mee, and a witness in this case, were seen in the area of 90th Avenue North and 4th Street North. Police brought them in for questioning, but have not released the name of the witness.
Later, about 4:00 p.m., Homicide Investigators located the other two suspects – Newton and Raiford – in the area of 89th Avenue North and 5th Street North and brought them to the Police Department for interviews.
All three suspects, Mee, Newton and Raiford were charged with First Degree murder (Felony Murder) in the death of Griffin and transported to the Pinellas County Jail shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Police theorize that Griffin’s murder was a set-up robbery gone awry. Mee and Newton have been characterized as having a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.
See Video of Details on Arrest of Jennifer Mee for murder of Shannon Griffin.
All three suspects have provided Homicide Investigators with certain admissions in the case.
Police are continuing with the investigation.
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