Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Patrol Operations Bureau
Support Services Bureau
-Crime Scene Investigation Unit

Christopher Keys (Arrested)
DOB: 05/02/1983
Address: 5259 65^th Way North, Unit 74, St. Petersburg
-Incident at 31^st Street North and 58^th Avenue North on November 30, 2015 (Shooting):
Arrested for Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Shooting a Deadly Missile Into an Occupied Vehicle, Aggravated Stalking, and Violation of an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence

-Incident on October 04, 2015 (Cut Brakes):
Arrested for Two-Counts Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Aggravated Stalking, and Violation of an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence

Victims are a 24-year-old female; and her 11-month old daughter

What:
Detectives have arrested a suspect for attempted murder in connection with the shooting that injured a 24-year-old woman as she was driving south on 31st Street North in Lealman. The victim’s 11-month-old daughter was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. The child was not injured.

When:
The shooting occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on Monday, November 30, 2015.

Where:
The shooting occurred at 31^st Street North and 58^th Avenue North in Lealman.

Why/How:
On November 30, 2015 deputies responded to the intersection of 31^st Street North and 58^th Avenue North in response to a shooting.

When deputies arrived on scene they discovered the victim standing next to her vehicle with several wounds to her head and neck. The victim, a 24-year-old female, was transported by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Deputies say the woman’s 11-month-old daughter was a passenger in the vehicle. She was not injured.

Detectives from the Robbery/Homicide Unit began their investigation. Through various witness interviews, detectives learned that a suspicious vehicle was parked in a residential driveway just south of 58^th Avenue North just prior to the shooting, and fled the scene southbound on 31st Street just after the shots were fired. The vehicle was described as a late 90s model sedan, maroon in color.

Detectives also learned that due to previous threats and actions (described below) the victim had obtained an injunction for protection against domestic violence from 32-year-old Christopher Keys.

On November 30^th, through various investigative techniques detectives determined Keys had been staying at the Quality Inn located at 20162 US Highway 19 North. Keys was arrested at that time for the violation of injunction that occurred on October 4, 2015.

Detectives say that on August 1, 2015 and October 4, 2015 Keys went to the victim’s apartment complex and either attempted to tamper or tampered with the brake lines of her vehicle in an attempt to cause her harm.

Detectives say during the interview, Keys admitted to the crime and stated that he knew the victim would drive her vehicle and “wanted to kill her.”

Furthermore, as to the shooting incident on November 30^th, Keys admitted driving a maroon 2001 Nissan Sentra (belonging to his current girlfriend) to the victim’s complex and then driving to the area of 31^st Street and 58^th Avenue so he could follow the victim.

On the evening of December 3, 2015 detectives added the following charges to Keys:

November 30, 2015 (shooting incident): Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Shooting a Deadly Missile Into an Occupied Vehicle, Aggravated Stalking, and Violation of an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence

October 4, 2015 (incident involving the tampering with the victim’s vehicle brakes): Two-Counts Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Aggravated Stalking, and Violation of an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence

The investigation continues.

Detectives are asking that anyone with information that may assist them on the shooting investigation, please contact Detective Steve Bergstrom of the Robbery/Homicide Unit at 727-582-6200; or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

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