FBI Offers Reward for Murder Weapon Used in Connected Homicides

TAMPA, FL—Today, the FBI Tampa Field Office, in coordination with the Tampa Police Department (TPD), is offering a reward of $20,000.00 for information leading to the recovery of the weapon used in the murder of a Tampa resident and two TPD officers.

On May 18, 2010 shortly before 11:30 p.m., Derek Marquise Anderson was fatally shot inside of the Kenneth Court Apartment complex during what TPD detectives believe was a botched robbery attempt.

On June 29, 2010 at 2:15 a.m., Officer David Curtis attempted to pull over a vehicle at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and 50th Street. The car had no visible license plate. The vehicle eventually pulled over at 50th Street and 23rd Avenue. Officer Curtis determined the passenger was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Jacksonville, Florida. He called for backup and Officer Jeffrey Kocab arrived on scene. Both officers were subsequently shot and killed by the passenger of the vehicle.

Individuals have recently been identified and charged in these cases. However, the weapon which investigators believe was utilized in both incidents has not been recovered.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the weapon should contact the Tampa FBI office at 813/253-1000. Individuals may remain anonymous. As a result of the ongoing partnership between the FBI Tampa Field Office and Clear Channel Outdoors (CCO) – Tampa market, CCO has agreed to profile the reward for the weapon on their 13 digital billboards throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties as a public service.