Alleged Drug Robbery Gone Bad Nets Tampa Man Charge of Felony Murder

Authorities say a drug deal gone bad led to a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in the North Tampa neighborhood last week.

Tampa police arrested Alexeis Perez whom they say killed Antonio Roman around midday last Wednesday. According to police, Perez traveled to Roman’s apartment just before noon that day to buy two ounces of cannabis. Accompanied by two other men, Perez allegedly asked another individual present how much cannabis was in the apartment, and that individual allegedly told him that there was about half of a pound of the plant in the residence.

Witness accounts differ at this point. The witness who had been talking to Perez says that he (Perez) pointed a firearm at his chest while the men who accompanied him apprehended Roman. He continues by saying that those two men appeared to hold Roman still while Perez allegedly fired his weapon at Roman, striking him several times.

Another witness to the event told investigators that one of the men with Perez aimed a gun at the other witness, whereupon Roman produced his own firearm and opened fire upon the armed companion. Perez subsequently drew his weapon and fatally wounded Roman, said the witness.

Investigators say that another witness suffered a wound to the leg prior to Perez’s flight from the premises. They say he left with a large share of the cannabis at the residence. In the meantime, paramedics transported Roman to Florida Hospital Tampa, where he succumbed to his wounds.

Perez was arrested later that day and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail at a quarter past five that evening on one charge of felony murder and one charge of robbery with a deadly weapon. Investigators say he declined to discuss the details of the events of earlier in the day. Perez is currently being held without bond.

The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murder, felony drug charges, drunk driving, government fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.