Hillsborough County deputies are charging a Tampa man with second degree murder after deputies say the person he was with was killed while committing a crime.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Danny Alvarez explained that someone can be charged with second degree murder if the person they’re helping commit a crime is killed during the act.
Deputies say Earnest Eugene Cherry Jr., 36, turned himself in Monday after a warrant was put out for his arrest following a robbery that turned deadly back on Nov. 28.
Cherry drove Chike Tim, 39, to break into a home in the 1300 block of Rivage Circle in Brandon around 2:30 p.m., according to the arrest report.
Deputies say the men were in search of drugs and money and believed there was a lot of it inside the home.
Tim forced himself through the front door, and then a female inside grabbed a 9mm handgun and shot him once in the head, according to deputies.
Tim died at the scene and was found with what appeared to be socks covering his hands, investigators say.
Deputies say home surveillance video captured a car they believed was driven by Cherry leaving the scene.
Deputies say they found illegal drugs and $66,000 worth of cash inside the house.
Cherry is being held on a $75,000 bond.
