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Authorities seek link between two shootings

One man is shot twice in the arm. Another arrested in that case tells authorities someone shot up his home.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published March 1, 2005

DADE CITY - Authorities are trying to determine whether two weekend shootings are linked.

Someone shot up Andre Hammond's home at 38354 Tuskeegee Ave., leaving the front windows shattered and glass all over the floor inside.

Hammond told police he was away when the shooting took place between midnight Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

However, authorities think Hammond was home, at least at 4:30 a.m. Sunday when they say Hammond opened fire on Alfreddie Elmonise with a submachine gun, injuring Elmonise as he drove by Hammond's home.

"Given the fact that you have a victim, Alfreddie Elmonise, and you have a suspect who says that his house was shot within the same period of time," said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin, "detectives are looking into the similarities at this point."

Elmonise, 21, of 37205 North Ave. in Dade City told the Sheriff's Office that as he drove by Hammond's home in a friend's borrowed black 1999 Lincoln about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, he saw his attacker hiding behind a house.

What happened next, authorities said, left Elmonise shot twice in the right arm.

"The victim said he observed the suspect with what appeared to be an (Ingram) Mac-10 (submachine gun)," Tobin said, "and the victim said the suspect fired numerous times at his vehicle.

"(Elmonise) said he fled the area. He also said he did not know why the suspect had shot at him."

Elmonise ended up at a friend's house on 15th St., Tobin said, and paramedics were called to aid him. "Andre shot me" is what Elmonise told friends, Tobin said. He was taken to Pasco Regional Medical Center for treatment.

At 9:40 a.m. Sunday, Hammond, 24, called the Dade City Police Department.

"(He) reported that someone shot some type of weapon into his residence," said police Chief Phil Thompson.

Hammond told police he left his house at midnight, then returned at 9:30 a.m. to find his house riddled with bullet holes and broken glass. Police and a forensics unit were dispatched, Thompson said, and investigators were working to find out what kind of weapon was used. But witnesses were few, he said.

"They spoke to some of the neighbors, and they said they heard some gunshots in the area," Thompson said. "But they didn't pay attention to the residence."

The residence wasn't broken into, Thompson added.

Authorities arrested Hammond on a charge of attempted murder.

Hammond, who was booked into the Pasco County jail on $150,000 bail, denied he was the shooter, according to a sheriff's report. Hammond bailed out of the jail at 12:30 a.m. Monday.

[Last modified March 1, 2005, 01:11:12]