By Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 6, 2012
TAMPA — Hillsborough deputies arrested a 25-year-old man Friday in connection with a 2010 Tampa slaying.
Amaury Speing, 6032 Idlewild Ave., is accused of killing James H. "LJ" Hayes Jr., 20.
Hayes was found in a parking lot at 7323 Las Palmas Court on Sept. 3, 2010, his pockets turned out and two packages of honey buns on the ground.
He suffered trauma to the upper body, but officials would not elaborate on how he died.
A gas station clerk told deputies he saw four people in a vehicle outside his store before the attack. He said two ran after Hayes and then returned.
One of the men came into the store and when asked what happened said, "We put him to sleep," deputies reported.
Authorities distributed a surveillance image of that man. A deputy recognized him.
During the investigation, detectives found other witnesses who saw Speing chase Hayes. One witness said he saw Speing stand over the victim and then go through his pants pockets.
Speing faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted strong armed robbery. He was held without bail at the Hillsborough County jail.
In an email to the Times, the victim's father, James Hayes Sr., wrote, "I cannot tell you just how I feel right now. Today was a long time coming."