Orlando man charged in a fatal stabbing

A second suspect has not been arrested in the October slaying in a vacant Tampa storefront.

By CASEY CORA, Times Staff Writer
Published October 25, 2007

TAMPA - Police arrested an Orlando man Wednesday in connection with the death of Kenny Love Washington, who was found stabbed to death earlier this month.

Devon LaVelle Batiste, 26, was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Orient Road Jail. He also was charged with felony attempted robbery. Bail was not set.

An arrest affidavit names a second suspect, 24-year-old Lamar Coffey. He remains at large.

Investigators found Washington's bloodied body inside a vacant storefront at 3004 N 22nd St. on Oct. 12. Friends said Washington had just returned to Tampa after a prison stint.

According to an arrest affidavit, the 45-year-old Washington and Coffey had lived together inside that space for about a week.

Here's what happened between 11 p.m. that night and 6 a.m. the next morning, according to the affidavit:

A witness dropped Batiste and Coffey at that address about 11 p.m. Four hours later, the two walked into a nearby church. Both were hurt. Coffey had a severe cut on his finger; Batiste had bite marks on his right hand.

Both gave different stories to unidentified witnesses. Coffey said his finger was cut in a fight; Batiste later said the two were injured while attempting a robbery.

About 6 a.m., investigators found Washington's bloodied body inside the first-floor storefront. He had been stabbed multiple times.

Washington's friend, Harold Jones, told the St. Petersburg Times it was supposed to be his first day at a new job.

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 00:49:01]