Five juveniles who were arrested in connection with the beating of another teenager near the Davis Island Dog Park have been charged as adults. An additional defendant was already 18 when the crime occurred and will be charged as an adult.
On February 13th, the suspects and several other juveniles approached a pickup truck where the victim was sitting. Investigators obtained multiple cell phone videos of the suspects entering the vehicle and forcibly pulling the victim out to beat him repeatedly. The victim lost consciousness and the defendants continued to attack him. Detectives believe the attack stemmed from a dispute earlier in the week that occurred outside of Tampa city limits.
“This was a brutal and senseless attack that has no place in our community,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “No matter your age, if you commit a crime in our city, expect to be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thanks to the swift work and dedication of our officers and detectives, these individuals will now face the consequences of their actions.”
Local prosecutors have reviewed the facts and evidence, including several videos of the incident, which they described as difficult to watch. The following suspects have been charged as adults in the Davis Island Dog Park beating case:
- Owen Callahan – Attempted murder in the first degree
- Jacob Ely – Attempted murder in the first degree, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, throwing a deadly missile at within or into a vehicle
- Joseph Gesuale – Attempted murder in the first degree, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Jace Villanueva – Attempted murder in the first degree, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Grayson Shearer – Attempted murder in the first degree
- Orian Robinson – Felony battery, burglary with a battery
According to witnesses, Ely threw a large rock at the rear window of a black Ford pickup truck while the driver, an adult white male in his late teens, and passenger, a white male juvenile in his late teens, were inside.
According to the Tampa Police Department, Ely, Callahan, Robinson, and Shearer then entered the truck, assaulting the teen passenger and forcibly removing both victims. The passenger lost consciousness during the assault, and Ely threw another rock toward his head. During the attack, Gesuale was waving a knife back and forth placing the driver in fear for his life.
The passenger was treated at a local hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released. The driver, fortunately, did not sustain any reported injuries.
While this was an isolated incident, it remains an active investigation according to Central Florida law enforcement. The Tampa Police Department is aware of a video of the attack posted to social media, which is also part of the ongoing investigation. Detectives encourage anyone with any additional information, including video, to share it with investigators by calling Tampa Police at 813.231.6130 or contacting Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay.
Based on the charges, the State Attorney was required by Florida law to ask a judge to hold these defendants behind bars until trial.
