Family of slain Tampa teen offering $1,000 for information

Garrett Phillips
·2 min read
5

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The family of 14-year-old Jevario Buie, who was found fatally shot Wednesday, April 14, spoke on Friday.

The family spoke following their first viewing of Buie’s body since his release from the coroner’s office.

“After talking with the funeral home director and learning what really happened to my grandson, we, as a family, in the spirit of Emmett Till’s mother, want the world to know what happened to Jevario,” Jevario’s grandfather Michael Baldwin, said in a press release sent out Friday morning.

Baldwin, who flew to Florida from California for the viewing and press conference, said Jevario was an upstanding kid who was not a part of any gangs, never did drugs and never drank alcohol.

“We gotta do something about this,” Baldwin said.

“So long as we continue to capitalize on victimization, we’re not going to be able to do anything about gun violence,” Baldwin said, noting the family has had discussion about funeral costs and his daughter (Jevario’s mother) has already been told she has to return to work.

Baldwin also said the family does not want whoever killed Jevario to be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty and promised the family would “walk beside them” on the path to healing.

“I know this crime happened as a result of some hurting boys who hurt other people,” Baldwin said. “They aren’t bad boys, they’re hurting, and we want to help them address their own pain.”

Joining the family was Jamilia Land, a national survivor fellow with the “Everytown For Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action” group, the release said.

“Someone, somewhere knows something,” said Land, imploring anyone with information to come forward and revealing the family has offered a $1,000 reward for information about the case.

Land asked for the parents of the shooter(s) to come forward.

“We ask that you do the right thing,” Land said.

Jevario was found on Wednesday around 3:30 p.m. near the railroad tracks by West Busch Boulevard and Rome Avenue.

Officials are still searching for information about the case and urge anyone with information to call 813-231-6130 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS.

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