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Special report: The homeless struggle
Neighborhood feels mix of grief, fear, anger
The killing of two homeless men is shocking.
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN and ALISA ULFERTS
Published January 19, 2007
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A memorial for David Heath appeared in the alley near 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue N, near where his body was found.
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[Times photo: Cherie Diez]
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ST. PETERSBURG - In an alley near the spot where David Heath was gunned down, a makeshift memorial now stands at the foot of a tree. A note from "a concerned neighbor" to "the family of the fallen man" says "we are so sorry for your loss." A friend left a letter calling him "a beautiful person." Others left flowers. For residents of United Central, also known as Central Oak Park, the grief that led to the memorial is mixed with fear and anger. Many remained stunned that Heath and another homeless man had been slain within an hour early Wednesday, and that the killers were still at large. "It makes you want to put the shells in the shotgun," said James Wilson, 54, who's lived near the area for 13 years and owns three shotguns. "This has always been a pretty quiet place to live, and we haven't had many problems." Heath, 53, was shot in an alley near 43rd Street N and 7th Avenue. Jeff Shultz, 43, was shot just nine blocks away, in an alley at 3511 Sixth Ave N. Police believe the same three teenagers killed both men. Witnesses at both sites told police they saw three black male teenagers with closely cropped hair walking briskly away from the bodies. Police say they appeared to be between 13 and 18 years old; one wore long pants while the other two wore shorts. Sgt. Mike Kovacsev, head of the homicide unit, said officers and detectives were canvassing the neighborhood and local schools. Police say the killings do not seem drug-related, and Shultz may have been robbed. Shock and fear continued to reverberate through the city's homeless community. "This is an example of how the homeless are being targeted around the nation," said the Rev. Bruce Wright of Refuge Ministries, referring to recent high-profile cases, including the arrest of three teens accused of beating a homeless man to death last year in Fort Lauderdale. How to help Anyone with information can call police at (727) 893-7780.
[Last modified February 8, 2007, 11:23:20]
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by erica
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01/29/07 01:47 PM
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I am very sorry for your loss. My older kids father is homeless and lives in the street. Let me start by saying the hell with the money and the community they need to start helping the homeless some are homeless because they are ill.
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by Diane
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01/20/07 03:05 PM
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David gives a "FACE" to the Homeless. . .
those with Bipolar Disorder (mental illness) (Self medicatimg) Addictions!
"THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I."
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by advocate/homeless
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01/20/07 11:53 AM
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I FOR ONE MINUTE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A RACIAL CRIME. THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE THESE HOMELESS HAVE NO SAFE HAVEN FROM THESE CRIMES ALTOGETHER. HUD DROP THE NOT EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO THE POPULATION OBVIOUSLY LOSING 5 MILLION DOLLARS? ANOTHER OVERSIGHT
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by Cathy
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01/20/07 01:06 AM
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David was my cousin - he was a kind, but troubled man. He suffered from mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse. He leaves behind a family that will miss him terribly. He did not deserve to die this way - alone in an alley - no one does.
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by Stephanie
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01/19/07 05:26 PM
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Instead of kicking the homeless out of their tents, maybe the city should actually help them find shelter. Who has time for that though when there are more condo plans to approve.
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by Tammy
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01/19/07 04:23 PM
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I feel that these two white men being murdered randomly the day after Martin Luther Kings Birthday could mean that these 3 black males could have been committing crimes against whites in retaliation for the acts against the blacks in the 60's.
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by Gilbert
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01/19/07 03:25 PM
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Violence is spinning out of control again. These men, God Bless their souls will be in my prayers. Should the perpertrators be juvenile, lets not be reluctant to use the death penalty.
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by Spud
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01/19/07 02:11 PM
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david Heath Was Not Homeless He May Not have Own A Home.
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News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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