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Shots ring out after dispute; three injured

By LEONORA LaPETER
Published January 28, 2005

Roman Callaway, 16, was shot 10 times, police say.

Gaverne N. Powell, 29, was another victim.

Stephen J. Simmons was found lying in a driveway.

ST. PETERSBURG - Three people were wounded early Thursday in a shootout on 13th Avenue S, including a 16-year-old father of two who was shot 10 times.

Police arrived just after 3:30 a.m. to find Stephen J. Simmons, 31, of 1209 James Ave. S, lying in a driveway with a gunshot wound. He told officers he'd been shot across the street at 967 13th Ave. S.

Police entered the small cream-colored house with red trim and found signs of illegal drug use, said Bill Proffitt, a spokesman for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

They then found the 16-year-old, Roman Callaway, of 4670 13th Ave. S, on the ground, just east of the house. A third man, Gaverne N. Powell, 29, also had been shot.

All three men were taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Elaine Callaway Seay, 45, said her son was shot 10 times, mostly in the upper torso but one shot hit his forehead and another his ear.

"He's not doing too good, he's in critical condition," she said. "They're scared to do surgery. Two bullets are still lodged in his head. He's alert, by the grace of God. He can see me out of one eye."

According to police, two men arrived in a Blue Star cab at the 13th Avenue S residence minutes before the shooting. One of them robbed the cab driver, but the driver did not report it to police, officials said.

Once inside the residence, a dispute erupted and shots were fired. None of the three men who were shot lived at the house, Proffitt said.

All three men had criminal records. Simmons, who has been in prison, has been charged during the past decade with possession of marijuana, possession and sale of counterfeit drugs, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and aggravated stalking.

Powell's record includes charges of possession and sale of crack.

Callaway has a juvenile record dating to 1999, when he was 10 years old and was charged with burglary. Since 2003, he has been charged with burglary, possession of marijuana and failing to stop after a car accident.

He has also fathered two children, a 1-year-old girl and a 4-week-old boy, with his 16-year-old girlfriend.

Ms. Seay said the last time she saw her son Wednesday night, he was playing Playstation games with his sister and brother. Seay said that her son and Simmons may have taken the cab to the house on 13th Avenue S, but she thinks they arrived at a time when the house was being robbed.

Proffitt said police do not think any others were involved in the shooting. They are seeking a fourth man who may have been a witness. No charges have been filed.

[Last modified January 28, 2005, 00:20:16]