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Toddler killed by hit-run driver

Authorities say a longtime criminal killed a 2-year-old boy and injured another child when he tried to run over an ex-girlfriend.

By BRADY DENNIS
Published July 5, 2005

	Demontaye Simmons, 2, was killed by a pickup truck.

TAMPA - Tampa police say a man who tried to run over an ex-girlfriend with his truck instead mowed down two children, killing a 2-year-old boy and injuring the boy's 4-year-old cousin.

The incident happened just after 7:30 p.m. Monday outside 3201 24th Ave., northeast of Ybor City.

Officials said Derrick Anthony McNeal, 36, was driving down the street in a red Dodge pickup truck when he saw an ex-girlfriend, Tosha Shoundra Montgomery, 30, in the front yard of the house, at a Fourth of July gathering.

Police said McNeal gunned the truck, rammed another car out of the way, plowed over a chain-link fence and tried to run over Montgomery. Instead, two children stood in the path of his rampage - 2-year-old Demontaye Simmons and 4-year-old Toshayla Hall.

Demontaye died at the scene. Toshayla was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries, officials said. Montgomery, who had come to attend the July Fourth barbecue, was treated at the scene.

"He killed my grandbaby!" wailed Lena Harrell, 44, the boy's grandmother and caretaker, as she peered across the yellow crime scene tape.

Nearby, the boy's mother, 20-year-old Tatiana Johnson, arrived and looked toward the spot where her son had died. She cradled her sleeping infant daughter and talked into her cell phone.

"My boy is dead," she said. "They ran him over."

Police said McNeal fled the scene and drove eight blocks before abandoning the truck and escaping on foot. Officers used dogs, a helicopter and foot patrols to search for him late into Monday night.

"We obviously believe he is very dangerous," said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy, who said McNeal had outstanding warrants on aggravated assault and other violent charges.

State records show McNeal has been in and out of prison since 1987, when he was convicted of burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft.

He served time again over the years for various convictions, including aggravated assault, retaliation against a witness and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to records. His most recent arrest in Hillsborough County came in April on charges of driving without a proper license and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Louise Edwards, who owns the house where the incident happened and said she was Demontaye's great-grandmother, said she was in the kitchen when a perfect holiday afternoon turned tragic.

"I heard this boom," she said. "Everybody started screaming and hollering. I don't know why he done that."

Those who knew Demontaye remembered him as a smart child who liked to dance to rap music by Tupac Shakur and imitate the professional wrestlers he saw on television. They also talked about his smile, that big smile, the one he always wore.

Monday was no different, until the accident.

"We were having a nice Fourth of July," Edwards said. Then everything changed.

Behind her, fireworks exploded every few seconds from nearby streets, lighting up the night sky with red and blue. Just like the police lights flashing down below.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at (813) 276-3200 or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

--Times staff writer Alex Leary contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 5, 2005, 08:50:06]