Georgia man held in Hillsborough killing

By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
Published December 16, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Authorities say Jimmie Darrie Means shot a Tampa man in the head last week and robbed him.

TAMPA - Hillsborough sheriff's detectives arrested a suspect at his home in Georgia and charged him in the carjacking and death of a 27-year-old Tampa man in Clair-Mel.

Jimmie Darrie Means, 21, of Sylvester, Ga., was arrested just before 10 a.m. Saturday and charged with first-degree murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm, according to Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter. She said he was being held without bond in Georgia until he could be extradited to Hillsborough County.

Last week, the victim, Antonio Middleton of Tampa, had contacted Means for a drug deal, Carter said in a news release. Middleton and his girlfriend picked up Means on Wednesday night at 78th Street and Rideout Road.

They drove to Waikiki Way and Ridein Road in Clair-Mel, where Means ordered Middleton's girlfriend out of the car, Carter said.

After the girlfriend left the car, Means shot Middleton in the back of the head, pushed his body out of the car, took $300 from his pockets and drove away, Carter said.

Middleton died the next day.

The Nissan Altima was found abandoned in Tifton, Ga., prompting Hillsborough detectives to travel there. With the help of Tift County sheriff's deputies, they found a pistol in a drain that they think was used in the shooting.

A warrant was issued for Means, and detectives arrested him Saturday morning at his home, she said.

Georgia state records show that Means was released from prison in February after serving two years of a three-year sentence for aggravated assault.

Saundra Amrhein can be reached at amrhein@sptimes.com or 661-2441.

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 23:11:06]