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Man kills teen during robbery in parking lot

By Times Staff Writer
Published July 15, 2005

TAMPA - A Thonotosassa teenager died early Thursday morning after being shot during a robbery, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Chad Lynch, 17, of 12208 Kelly Lane, Thonotosassa, died at Tampa General Hospital after being wounded by a single gunshot.

Deputies said that Lynch and an 18-year-old male friend, whose name they did not release, were sitting in a parking lot at 6806 N 50th St. smoking marijuana when a man walked up to their car to rob them at about 12:45 a.m. Lynch and his friend went to the parking lot after buying drugs in a nearby neighborhood, deputies said.

The man fired one shot, striking Lynch. The 18-year-old then drove to a convenience store at N 50th Street and E Sligh Avenue to get help. Lynch was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Deputies described the shooter as a black male with a medium build, about 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was wearing dark clothes with a dark shirt wrapped around his face and was driving a dark-colored vehicle.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call the Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8000.

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