Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said witnesses saw Michel Montesino pull into the parking lot in his pickup truck. She said a second man, Vladimir Mesa, 39, followed in a white, midsized car.

The two men worked together on the loading docks nearby, Carter said, and had gotten into a fight that morning that resulted in Montesino's being fired from his job.

The pair left work, but both ended up at Badger Drive near the warehouses, where the shooting happened, Carter said.

Middle school students accused of fondling girl

ST. PETERSBURG -- Three boys at Bay Point Middle School face charges after police say the boys pulled a 12-year-old girl into a locker room and fondled her Tuesday. Police charged the 13- and 14-year-old boys with lewd and lascivious molestation Wednesday. All were suspended.

The girl was using a drinking fountain near the entrance to the boys' locker room at the school at 2151 62nd Ave. S. The boys pulled her into the room and fondled her, but they did not put their hands beneath her clothing, police said.

Police referred the criminal charges to the State Attorney's Office for prosecution.

School Board seeks land or funds from developers

TAMPA -- With 31 new schools opening in the next five years, the Hillsborough County School Board would like developers to either donate land or agree to spend more to help build schools in crowded communities.

On Wednesday during a joint meeting between the board and the Board of County Commissioners, school officials asked the county to study changes in a 15-year-old ordinance that requires developers to either give land for schools or increase the per-home fees paid by developers to the school district.

"These are all our youngsters," said board Chairman Joe Newsome. "We're just saying let's look at and let's see. We don't want to kill growth, but I think . . . we have to do it in a logical way."

Currently, developers in Hillsborough are charged $196 for each new home, the second lowest amount in the state, ahead of only Citrus County's $135.

Because the fees are low, Susan Adams, director of the county's planning and growth management department, said developers usually pay the fees rather than give land. The board and commissioners plan to meet in the next six months to formally take up the growth management issue.

Memorial honors man slain in disturbances

ST. PETERSBURG -- About 40 people gathered Wednesday evening to dedicate a memorial garden honoring the death of 18-year-old TyRon Lewis, whose shooting on Oct. 24, 1996, by city police sparked civil disturbances.

Surrounded by new earth, recently planted flowers and wood posts bearing the names of other community members who lost their lives violently, participants met at the garden at 1441 16th Street S and pledged to promote peace within the community and work for economic development.

Lewis' mother, Pamela, and Chimurenga Waller, president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, thanked those present for attending and remembering Lewis. "We can't just stand for the end of violence," Waller told those assembled. "We have to stand for economic development as well."

Lewis was killed after a traffic stop when St. Petersburg police Officer James Knight fired through the windshield of Lewis' car. Knight said Lewis was trying to run him over despite an order to stop.

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