Suspect held in road slaying

A man with a record of 13 arrests is charged in the shooting death that followed a 100 mph chase on Memorial Highway.

By MICHAEL SANDLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 7, 2000

TAMPA -- Police say Robert Bruno never knew Fernando Malagon. The two men lived for years on opposite sides of Tampa Bay. But on Tuesday their paths crossed, a chance meeting that cost Malagon his life, police say.

Bruno, a 31-year-old with a long arrest record, was arrested Saturday night in a killing that police say was motivated by road rage. He was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the 37-year-old Largo man and was being held without bail at the Orient Road jail.

"From everything homicide found out, these guys never crossed paths (until Tuesday)," Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin said.

Witnesses told police that Bruno became enraged when Malagon cut him off on Memorial Highway. Bruno, with two passengers in his car, chased Malagon for five miles at speeds up to 100 miles per hour before both vehicles pulled over, police say.

Police say Bruno then got out of his car, walked to Malagon's 1996 gray Volvo and shot him with a large-caliber pistol. He then drove off with the two passengers, police say.

"Apparently, Bruno got mad at the victim for allegedly cutting him off," Durkin said. "He got in such a rage that he was going to show him."

Malagon, a martial arts black belt, died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the upper body. He had last been seen at a St. Petersburg karate school at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and police are uncertain what he was doing in Hillsborough County.

Family members declined to comment after the arrest.

"The police had asked us not to say anything," said Edward Malagon, Fernando Malagon's brother, who lives near Panama City, Fla. "For now, I certainly want to respect that. I want this to come to a conclusion." On Wednesday, Edward Malagon touted his brother's self-defense skills and said he was not the kind of person to back down in the face of adversity. Friends also said Malagon tended to drive fast.

Bruno has been arrested previously in Hillsborough County 13 times. Charges included battery, grand theft, grand theft auto, operating a chop shop and being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. However, the disposition of those cases wasn't available Sunday.

No one answered the door of the home at 11015 Peking Place, which a neighbor said Bruno shares with his father.

Little information was available about the two passengers who were in the car with Bruno. Police said they still were talking with them and the investigation was continuing, but no further charges were expected for now.

"We received a lot of calls, and that's what picked up the pace of the investigation," Durkin said.

Police say the incident began when Malagon cut Bruno off near Hillsborough Avenue. Witnesses watched as Bruno and Malagon zipped along Memorial Highway, Bruno in his red Nissan and Malagon in the Volvo. They exchanged hostile words and gestures while racing at speeds of about 100 mph.

Just before reaching the exit ramp for southbound Interstate 275, Malagon pulled over and the red car stopped a few yards away. Police say Bruno then got out of his car and crossed some grass toward the other car. They say he drew the pistol, shot through the glass of the rear window and hit Malagon from behind.

He then returned to his car and drove off with the two passengers, police say. Over the next four days, police received numerous tips. On Saturday, Durkin said, an anonymous caller told them Bruno would be in the parking lot of the Chili's restaurant at Dale Mabry and Fletcher about 9 p.m. They arrested him there.

- Times staff writer Amy Wimmer contributed to this report. Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.

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