A Florida father is charged with murder after allegedly shooting his 5-year-old daughter and leaving her in a pool of blood while his 8-year-old son fought for his life. Shots were fired soon after their mother had kissed them.
Jermaine Lavanda Bass, 30, of Tampa, Florida, shot his daughter numerous times in the head, resulting in her death.
Bass also shot his son, who is presently battling for his life at Tampa General Hospital. The mother rushed home from dinner to tuck her children into bed, and when she did so, Bass shot them.
He told the responding Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies that he inadvertently shot his son many times with a.380 semiautomatic handgun.
Bass told responders that his daughter was still sleeping, but when they checked, they discovered she had been fatally injured.
Bass was charged with first-degree homicide, attempted first-degree homicide, and child abuse.
A 5-year-old girl in Tampa, Florida was fatally shot, while her 8-year-old brother is currently fighting for his life after their father shot them both in the head immediately after their mother kissed them goodnight.
Jermaine Lavanda Bass, 30, was arrested on August 29 and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and aggravated child abuse after claiming he ‘accidentally’ shot his children many times as they slept.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department is bewildered by the violence.
Monday night, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the mother of the children left the restaurant where she was dining to tuck her children into bed and retire herself.
Jermaine Lavanda Bass, age 30, shot and killed his 5-year-old daughter and severely injured his 8-year-old son.
She ascended to the second floor, where the children were sleeping in bunk beds. She kissed her 5-year-old daughter, who was pretending to be asleep and giggling in the top bunk, according to Sheriff Chad Chronister.
She gave her 8-year-old son a kiss before rushing out of the room to use the restroom.
She heard multiple gunshots suddenly. When she discovered it was coming from inside the house at the Armeture Gate Townhomes, a ‘lovely community,’ she ran for safety and was greeted by a neighbor who was already phoning 911 anxiously.
Almost simultaneously, her husband rushed out of the house carrying their severely injured son.
Bass reportedly said, “Call for assistance, call for help, call for help,” according to the sheriff.
Deputies of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office who rushed to the scene saw Bass in the family room cradling his injured son. He informed them that the shooting was unintentional.
Bass never stated that he also shot his daughter in the head many times. She was discovered in her upstairs bedroom lying in a pool of her own blood by police.
Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County was overcome with emotion as he described the incomprehensible savagery of a man who killed his 5-year-old daughter and injured his 8-year-old son.
Chronister stated, “When our officers initially get on scene, they observe the father in the family room clutching his eight-year-old son and stating that it was an accident.” The father told the deputies, “I have no idea how the gun discharged, but I inadvertently shot my son.”
Emergency medical technicians remove the infant from the father and initiate advanced life support to rescue the child.
When asked if anyone else is in the residence, Bass responds, “My daughter is asleep upstairs,” according to the sheriff.
Chronister stated that while ascending the stairs, deputies saw a five-year-old girl lying in a pool of her own blood on the top bed. She is shot in the head two or three times. The identical injury that the eight-year-old had sustained and endured.
Each child was sent to Tampa General Hospital. Sheriff stated it was impossible to save the girl.
“Our eight-year-old is struggling for his life,” Chronister stated during a press appearance, choking up momentarily.
The sheriff stated, “I hope this person suffers the full weight of the criminal justice system and never sees the light of day where they can damage another human being.” Police discovered a.380 semiautomatic handgun in the residence.
In addition to his comments that the shooting was an accident, Bass provided no further explanation for his actions.
The confused sheriff stated, “You don’t inadvertently shoot your kid three to four times in the head.”
He appeared to struggle with the notion that the shooting’s cause would remain a mystery.
“I have no idea why he did this,” said the sheriff. I’m uncertain if we will ever know.
Police stated there were no previous reports of domestic violence at the residence. Bass has no past convictions. The mother has not yet provided a full statement to authorities.
Chronister stated, “Our hearts go out to this lady who has lost one child, could perhaps lose a second, and whose marriage is plainly over.” Today, I will certainly pray for all of you.
The crime shook the sheriff’s officers and other first responders to their core.
The sheriff stated, “This is a horrifying ordeal no parent should have to endure.” “No law enforcement officer or first responder should ever have to witness this,” Today, the sheriff’s office is struggling.’