Tampa: Did Taquanda Kill Quintavious—or Did Her Boyfriend Do It?

Posted by Nicholas Stix

Police: store owner lied about shooting
Monday, 16 April 2012, 11:28 AM EDT; updated 8:41 p.m. EDT
Fox Tampa Bay

TAMPA - (Editor's note: an earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Baker was charged with murder. She is charged with shooting into occupied dwelling, fabricating and tampering with physical evidence, and making a false report -- but not with murder. We regret the error.)
 

Police: store owner lied about shooting: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com
Police are looking for a person of interest in connection with a shooting death in a Tampa convenience store last month.

They say the store owner, who claimed to have shot at a robber in self-defense, made the whole story up.

Taquanda Shanti Baker, 31, is now under arrest and faces charges related to lying to law enforcement and tampering with evidence.

Police say they are now looking for a man they say is a person of interest in the investigation.

They have a photo and surveillance video of the man, but say they don't know his name.

The shooting victim was identified as 16-year-old Quintavious "Antonio" Moore of Tampa. He died at St. Joseph Hospital after the incident.

In initial reports, the Tampa Police Department said Baker told them Moore fired a shot at her.

However, they later said Baker told them that the suspect pointed a gun at her. She said she fired one shot into the ground accidentally, and then fired a shot at the suspect.

Baker had a gun and a concealed weapons permit, police said.

According to Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, Baker's story did not match evidence gathered at the scene, and there were other discrepancies.

"As the detectives continued their interviews and they looked at surveillance video in the area, it was clear that Taquanda Baker was not even at the store at the time of the shooting. In fact, she showed up nine minutes after the shooting," Chief Castor said.

Investigators said when Baker arrived to her store, Moore had already been shot.

Baker had a conversation with a person in a vehicle outside of the store, before going in and shooting her own gun into the floor, according to investigators.

Police say because this is an active investigation, they won't say who was working in the store if Baker wasn't there.

Moore's role in the shooting is still under investigation. Police say a second firearm, besides Baker's, was found in the store. But police say they don't know whether the teenager was armed or whether the gun was planted on him.

Police won't say whether the person of interest and Moore were known to each other, but Moore's uncle says they were.

Police say Baker and the person of interest they are seeking have a child together, but they say Baker is not cooperating with investigators, so they haven't yet identified that person.

"Everyone knows that in a homicide investigation, it's those first few hours that are the most valuable and you get the most information. We couldn't count on the individual. Not only did she not cooperate fully, she sent the detectives off in the wrong direction," Castor said, referring to Baker.

Video of the person of interest, provided by the Tampa Police Department:
 

Tampa PD Media Relations reports:
 

Store Owner Arrested in What She Claimed was a Stand Your Ground Shooting
Detectives Searching for a Person of Interest in Murder Investigation
This is video of a person of interest

WHEN: April 16th, 11:20 am (arrest of owner)

WHERE: Baker's Mini Mart, 2504 North Armenia Avenue

SUSPECT: Taquanda Shanti Baker, DOB: 11/17/80, B/F, 10440 Hunter's Haven Blvd., Riverview
CHARGES: Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling, Fabricating and Tampering with Physical Evidence, False Report to Law Enforcement Officer

DETAILS: At the crime scene, the store owner claimed she shot an armed robber in self defense, but within 24 hours detectives determined her story did not match forensic investigation or witness statements. Detectives utilized surveillance video from a nearby business and witness statements to determine the store owner was not at the scene when 16-year-old Quintavius Moore was shot and killed. The owner arrived nine minutes after the first 911 call. Baker is being charged with making a false police report, tampering/fabricating evidence and firing her weapon in an occupied dwelling to make it look like a self defense. The role of Quintavius Moore in the shooting is still under investigation.

Police are searching for a person of interest who is caught on surveillance video leaving the scene. Detectives believe he has information on the shooting. Anyone who recognizes the person of interest in the video or additional photographs is urged to contact the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130.

Previous Release
Robbery Suspect Dies After Store Owner Shoots Him
SUSPECT: Quintavius Antonio Moore, DOB: 9/13/95, B/M, 401 7th Avenue Apt 712, Tampa
VICTIM: Taquanda Shanti Baker, DOB: 11/17/80, B/Fm 10440 Hunter's Haven Blvd. Riverview, Fl

DETAILS: At 10:45 a.m. the suspect walked into the store and asked the owner for change for a bill. He returned 30 minutes later armed with a handgun and pointed it at the owner behind the counter. According to the victim, that pulled out her handgun and accidentally fired one round into the ground then fired a round at the armed suspect and hit him. He died at St. Joseph's Hospital at 4:30 p.m. The store owner told detectives that she thought the suspect fired at her, but later realized that in her nervous state she fired both rounds. She ran out of the store and flagged down a Tampa Police officer who was driving south on Armenia Avenue. The suspect was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.