22-228 Detectives Arrest St. Petersburg Man for Attempted Murder
Attempted Murder Arrest
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Forensic Science Division
Damian de Leon (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 06/27/1995
Address: 5820 66th Lane North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Attempted Murder in the Second Degree; 2 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine); 2 counts Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
David de Leon Jr. (Victim – Critical Condition)
DOB: 06/28/1992
Address: 5805 Riddle Road, Holiday
PINELLAS COUNTY – On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at approximately 4:24 p.m. deputies were dispatched to 5820 66th Lane North in unincorporated St. Petersburg for a report of a shooting.
According to detectives, when deputies arrived on scene, they located 27-year-old Damian de Leon outside of the residence in the street. Deputies also located 30–year–old David de Leon Jr. lying in the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. David was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries.
Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives learned Damian and David were the only people present at the residence at the time of the shooting. Detectives say when Damian called 911, he admitted to shooting David indicating self-defense. There were no indications of a struggle and Damian sustained no injuries. The investigation determined Damian was the aggressor and there was no evidence to support the shooting was the result of self-defense.
Detectives also learned Damian had pending active probable cause for his arrest for two counts of Possession of Cocaine and two counts of Sale and Delivery of Cocaine for an unrelated incident.
Damian was taken into custody and transported to the Pinellas County Jail. He was charged with one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. Damian was also charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance reference the unrelated incident.
At the time of this release, David’s condition remains critical.
The investigation continues.
