Tampa man found shot to death

By From Times staff and wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 21, 2000

TAMPA -- Police called to a house at 2614 E 23rd Ave. early Saturday discovered the body of a man who had been shot.

The dead man was identified as Larry Michael Napper, 39, of 5107 E. Sligh Ave. According to a police department news release, Napper died of gunshot wounds to the chest.

Police did not say why they were called to the 23rd Avenue location.

Woman's death ruled a homicide

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The death of a young woman whose body was found in the Cross Florida Barge Canal early Saturday has been ruled a homicide.

Detectives from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office said the woman's nude body was discovered by boaters around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. It lay partly in the water and partly on the south bank of the barge canal, about 100 yards west of U.S. 19, authorities said. The barge canal is on the county line between Citrus and Levy counties.

The woman was black and 20 to 30 years old, authorities said.

An autopsy was performed Saturday afternoon. The Sheriff's Office then classified the death as a homicide.

Detectives did not release the cause of death or the victim's identity.

They did say the dead woman had a rough tattoo on the back of her left shoulder resembling the moon and stars.

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