The Deceased: Johnny Morris Jr.
Posted on 06/15/2017 11:57:08 AM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler
TAMPA — Early Wednesday, during a brawl among neighbors wielding knives and machetes, Belinda Heard watched her oldest son die in the gutter outside her home.
A large fight with her next-door neighbors, brewing since the day she and her sons moved into their Palm River home nine months ago, had finally erupted. They started fighting with fists, Heard said, but when someone cried out "they stabbed him," Heard turned to see Johnny Bernard Morris Jr., 23, reach for his neck as blood gushed from a large cut to his jugular.
"I started running but fell down and skinned up my knee trying to get to my baby," Heard said. "I saw him holding his neck and then he tried to grab my other son but fell in the water and started kicking like a fish, and that's how I knew he was going.
"I watched them kill my baby."
Investigators with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the brawl involved at least 10 other people, four of whom received minor stab wounds: Heard's 17-year-old sons Marvin and Jarvin Morris and their next-door neighbors Steven Tolbert, 20, and Ronnie Ponder, 23.
"It was a very large physical altercation with a lot of people involved," said Col. Donna Lusczynski of the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. "It's going to be a lengthy investigation."
Neither Tolbert nor Marvin or Jarvin Morris have criminal records, and state records show that Johnny Morris Jr. had one prior arrest for failing to appear in court in September 2016.
Ponder has been arrested in Florida 45 times on charges that include burglary, battery and domestic violence, state records show.
By Wednesday evening, all four stabbing victims had been released from hospitals to return to their neighboring homes, Hillsborough Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cristal Nunez said.
Sheila Brewton, Morris' aunt, said the neighbors at 1322 Windsor Way used to rent her sister-in-law's home, which apparently fueled tensions. Brewton estimated 20 people live inside the home and said they have routinely accused her nephews and sister-in-law of "stealing their house."
Since 2010, deputies have responded to 141 calls for service from the two homes, records show. This year alone they've responded to 16 calls about fights and multiple civil and domestic disputes. Eight came from 1322 Windsor Way, and eight came from 1324 Windsor Way.
Heard pays her rent on time, but can't afford to move, Brewton said. Morris' father died of an aneurism nearly six years ago, she said. After that, Johnny Morris Jr. took on the role of breadwinner for the family, trading dreams of playing football for working long shifts in nearby warehouses.
"They have to stay here, they don't have nowhere else to go," Brewton said. "My sister-in-law is too sick to work so now the only thing they have to live off are my brother's Social Security checks, and Lord knows that's not much."
Brewton joined Heard and a steady stream of friends and family who sat in her yard at 1324 Windsor Way as deputies watched from squad cars stationed throughout the low-income neighborhood.
None of their neighbors at 1322 Windsor Way appeared to be home.
Johnny Morris Jr. turned 23 last week and had a 3-year-old son who "was his whole world," Brewton said. He loved R&B music and football, turning heads as a wide receiver at Blake High School. He dreamed of playing beyond high school, Brewton said, but instead found steady work in nearby warehouses to provide for his son and mother, she said.
"I just don't understand this. I was there when he was born and he was smiling just like his daddy, so sweet and innocent," Brewton said. "Now we're just waiting because we know it's not over; it's just getting started."
The Deceased: Johnny Morris Jr.
Heheh, wonder why not.
But seriously not funny. Incredible number of police calls. I've had neighbors from hell, but not 100th this bad.
This isn't over yet. As they say, things "just got real."
Since 2010, deputies have responded to 141 calls for service from the two homes, records show. This year alone they've responded to 16 calls about fights and multiple civil and domestic disputes. Eight came from 1322 Windsor Way, and eight came from 1324 Windsor Way.
So far the local democrats have not been calling for new knife and machette control laws.
.
Obviously they’ve been radicalized by Donald Trump.
My closest neighbor is a quarter mile away he doesn’t bother me I don’t bother him.
Dindus being Dindus.
“Since 2010, deputies have responded to 141 calls for service from the two homes, records show-
—
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood———”
.
I hate to say it, but the Left really doesn't care about violence against blacks - at least that's the conclusion I've come to. Chicago, Baltimore, Jacksonville, New York - every big city with a murder problem seems to be the same, so long as they're killing their own. It is truly sad.
Brawl - Plural for “Teen”
“Ponder has been arrested in Florida 45 times on charges ...”
But but, Ronnie he...he be getting his life together. He dun enrolled at the local community coliche, he was trying to get a rap group up. He cared about every one of his 17 chilrun...”
The kid that got killed seems to have been trying to be responsible, and his brothers have clean records. The other people from next door - not so much. 20 people in that house? Good grief!
There is a Satan and he walks the land.
Ponder has been arrested in Florida 45 times on charges that include burglary, battery and domestic violence, state records show.
And he’s only 23 years old. Someone that far outside of the law should not be allowed in public. Ever.
They are only interested when they can use an episode of black violence or death as leverage to further the liberal agenda.
If this young black man had been killed in a brawl between whites and blacks this story would have been picked up by the liberal news media and blasted all over the country.
It probably would have drowned out stories about the Alexandria shooter.
But being a black on black killing it is just a local story downplayed on the inner pages of the leftist Tampa Bay Times.
Nothing to see here, folks; just move right along now. Thank you and watch your step around the bloodstains, shell casings and evidence parkers.
Just like in Africa, but without the police.
Yeah, the lesson for the others is that if you try to make something of your life, you'll get butchered in the gutter. And that is exactly what the democrats want for the poor urban blacks. Keep them down, keep them dependent. All they are expected to do is keep voting democrat. And no, the democrats don't give a damn if they kill each other.
I hate seeing these stories of someone in a poor neighborhood, apparently trying to get by in the world, and they get killed for no reason.
Ponder has been arrested in Florida 45 times on charges that include burglary, battery and domestic violence, state records show.
And that right there is the problem. I hope this Mother gets millions out of the state and city. Arrested 45 times and still walking around. Now he’s up for murder.....will he be let go? Well he was the other 45 times. Poor Mom just because rich Mom but not worth it at all.
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