Teen Arrested in Hate Crime Against Victim Who Lives Near Seminole Heights

Detectives from the Tampa Police Department on Thursday announced the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in connection with the shooting of a man who is a cross-dresser.

According to authorities, about a week after meeting Terrience McDonald, 22, Tavares Spencer, 16, arranged a second meeting with McDonald.

After the two got together near the 5000 block of Winnie Street, Spencer pulled out a gun and told McDonald to get on the ground, authorities say. Then, Spencer shot McDonald, authorities say.

McDonald pretended he was dead, and Spencer of 3624 Wilder Street East, walked away, authorities say. Eventually, McDonald got up and ran from the scene, but Spencer saw him running and fired another round toward the man, but didn't hit him.

During the investigation, authorities learned that Spencer shot McDonald because he dressed like a woman. That motive led to the hate crime charge that Spencer faces.

An hour after the shooting, authorities say, Spencer was bragging about it in text messages, using "defamatory statements" about McDonald's sexual orientation. 

Spencer was charged with attempted murder, robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Enhanced penalties will be enacted in Spencer's case because of Florida statute 775.085, which allows for harsher charges in incidents where there is "aggravation of a crime by selecting a victim based on prejudice."

The charges come weeks after the April 9 incident because authorities had to subpoena cell phone records and text messages, according to police spokeswoman Andrea Davis.

Spencer was notified in jail of his arrest, where he was staying due to previous charges.