TAMPA – Tampa teen was accused of trying to kill a member of the transgender community has been found guilty of attempted murder. Tavares Spencer was tried as an adult on charges that included attempted first-degree felony murder, attempted second-degree murder and robbery. He was found guilty on Oct. 31 for the April 9 crime.
On that date, authorities say the victim, who is legally known as Terrience McDonald, 22, agreed to meet with a teenager he knew only as “Vares.” He had met Vares a week before at a party, and the two had agreed to meet up again.
When they met at a vacant house, Spencer stole McDonald’s cell phone and purse. When McDonald tried to leave, Spencer pulled a gun and fired. Records say the victim pretended to be dead, and when Spencer walked away, McDonald fled the scene. He told investigators the teen fired another shot, but missed McDonald.
Homophobic and transphobic-laced text messages Spencer sent after the incident bragging about the shooting were presented in court, and helped lead to his conviction and also led to the attempted murder charge to be deemed a hate crime.
The teenager has been arrested 12 times since 2009 on charges ranging from possession of cocaine to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, records show. He remains in Hillsborough County Jail until sentencing.
