TAMPA - Police are searching for a 20-year-old man they say shot and killed 26-year-old James Bass of Tampa on Saturday night.
Investigators said the shooting happened about 9:15 p.m., when Cedric Lamar Scrivens, no listed address, confronted a third man at 2711 E 12th Ave., about money Scrivens apparently had dropped there during a gambling game.
When Scrivens accused the man of stealing his money, Bass came to the man's defense, police said. That's when Scrivens drew a handgun and shot Bass once in the upper body, according to reports.
Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin said Bass died at the scene.
Several other people witnessed the shooting, Durkin said, and they ran away. Scrivens fired shots at the fleeing men, but no one else was hurt, police said.
Detectives obtained a warrant for Scrivens on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. They said he also is wanted on a previous homicide attempt in Hillsborough County.
State records show that Scrivens has been arrested 10 times in Florida since 1998 on charges such as larceny, carrying a concealed weapon and felony battery.
His most recent arrest came April 2. He was released from the Hillsborough County jail the next day after posting $2,000 bail.
Anyone with information about Scrivens' whereabouts should contact the Tampa Police Department at 231-6130 or CrimeStoppers toll-free at 1-800-873-8477.
