TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Police in Florida say a motorist “purposely drove off the road,” cutting across traffic and over a grass easement, to kill a father on a bike ride with his two young sons.
Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters Monday that a witness described the driver of a Dodge Avenger hitting the family and speeding away.
Mikese Morse, 30, was arrested Sunday night at his parents’ house in Tampa after someone spotted the vehicle police were looking for and called 911.
Chief said Morse appeared to have targeted the family Sunday afternoon, striking 42-year-old Pedro Aguerreberry as he pulled one child on his bicycle with another child following behind on the off-road bike path. All were wearing helmets. Aguerreberry was killed and his 3-year-old, Bennett, was seriously injured. His 8-year-old, Lucas, wasn’t seriously hurt.
Dugan also says that Morse was recently hospitalized against his will for a mental evaluation. He says Morse walked into a police station on June 12 and exhibited “odd behavior,” so police detained him.
Morse is now charged with premeditated first-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash with a death and injuries. He’s being held at the Hillsborough County Jail, where records don’t list a defense lawyer for him.
#BREAKING Chief Brian Dugan gives details on New Tampa hit and run murder case; commends witnesses, alert citizens, and @HCSOSheriff deputies for assistance in locating suspect and his vehicle. pic.twitter.com/q92OxifMZB
— Tampa Police Department (@TampaPD) June 25, 2018
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