Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Robbery/ Homicide Unit

Tampa Police Department

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Aaron Bush (Victim- Deceased)
DOB: 05/17/1972
Address: 10636 Gandy Boulevard, St. Petersburg

Eliud Vega (Arrested)
DOB: 07/02/1983
Address: 7115 South DeSoto Street, Tampa
Charges: One count of First Degree Murder

What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit have charged a Tampa man with first degree murder after he shot and killed a man in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

When:
Deputies initially responded to the homicide scene at about 9:09 p.m. on January 3, 2019.

The suspect was arrested and charged at about 6:15 p.m. on March 5, 2019.

Where:
The incident occurred at the Trak Motel located at 10610 Gandy Boulevard in unincorporated St. Petersburg. 

Why/How:
At about 9:09 p.m. on January 3, 2019, deputies responded to the Trak Motel located at 10610 Gandy Boulevard in unincorporated St. Petersburg, regarding a deceased male subject that had been shot multiple times.

When deputies arrived, they found, 46-year-old Aaron Bush, unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies pronounced Bush deceased at about 9:28 p.m.

Through the investigation, detectives determined that 35-year-old Eliud Vega, was visiting a female acquaintance at the Twin City Mobile Home Park located at 10636 Gandy Boulevard.

Detectives say Bush and Vega had a verbal altercation after Bush accused Vega of engaging in prostitution with the female acquaintance.

According to detectives, Vega stayed for a short period of time at the female acquaintance’s residence, then proceeded to exit the mobile home park, in his vehicle, by heading north toward Gandy Boulevard. As Vega drove north to exit the mobile home park, Bush chased after Vega’s vehicle yelling racial slurs and accusing Vega of engaging in prostitution.

Detectives report that when Vega reached the exit of the mobile home park, he made a U-turn in the parking lot of the Trak Motel, where a second verbal altercation with Bush occurred. Detectives determined Vega shot Bush eleven times, then fled from the scene towards Tampa.

Through various interviews and physical evidence, detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Vega for one count of First Degree Murder with No Bond.

On March 5, 2019 at approximately 6:15 p.m., Pinellas detectives, along with the assistance of Tampa Police Department, met Vega at his residence located at 7115 South DeSoto Street in Tampa, where he was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.

Vega was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail located at 1201 Orient Road in Tampa.

The investigation continues.

Booking photo of Vega provided by HCSO