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Attorney: Suspect Didn’t Want Anyone Else Hurt


By MIKE WELLS
The Tampa Tribune

BRANDON - The search for the man suspected of shooting Thomas Cannon after the two argued in Cannon’s front yard over money Sunday ended quietly in Brandon at the home of the suspect’s lawyer.

Deandre “Debo’’ Woodruff, 27, waited for Hillsborough County deputies at attorney Eric Rubio’s home Monday night. Woodruff faces one count of second-degree murder and one count of firing into occupied dwelling.

Hillsborough County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Rubio contacted the sheriff’s office to say Woodruff wanted to turn himself in. Deputies arrested him at 9:15 p.m.

Rubio said Tuesday Woodruff came to the his office because he didn’t want anyone else hurt and needed an attorney’s advice.

“He wanted to make sure he wasn’t attacked, shot or harmed,’’ Rubio said. “And among his family members, the protection of his legal rights were of concern.’’

Investigators said Woodruff phoned Cannon’s home early Sunday morning before showing up at Cannon’s home on Sanford Street in Riverview, Carter said. Woodruff wanted to collect money Cannon owed him for electrical work, and the men argued and fought outside the home before Cannon, 42, threw a metal pipe at Woodruff’s vehicle, she said.

Witnesses later told deputies Woodruff got a gun out of his vehicle and fired at least five shots as Cannon ran inside the house. One bullet shattered a front window and pierced Cannon’s head, Carter said. He died at the scene.

The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered.

Rubio represented Woodruff late last year for a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession, court records show. Woodruff completed six months of probation in April after pleading no contest to the charge.

Contact Mike Wells at (813) 657-4534 or mwells@tampatrib.com


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Tiffani- You are right. Tammi doesn’t deserve any of this since she has already been through the passing of her first husband. She certainly is not responsible for either of these guys actions. As for the neighbors, they must have had some interaction with Mr. Cannon at sometime or another to make their remarks. If Mr. Cannon threw the pipe at Mr. Woodruff as reported, he may also have threatened to get a gun. There is always two sides to the story. We need to remember Mr. Woodruff deserves to be heard and given the benefit of doubt that everyone who is charged with a crime gets. Or is supposed to. I feel bad for both families. Ultimately, The truth will come out. And I’ll bet there will be shared responsibility between the victim and the suspect.

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I have known Thomas “BO” Cannon’s wife Tammi for at least 10 years. She is a wonderful person, and dosen’t deserve any of this. It takes alot of nerve for the neighbors on Sanford Street to mention to the press and officials that Thomas “BO” was an argumentative person, it sounds like they are implying that he got what was coming to him. THAT IS INSANE!!! No one deserves that!! Even if he was argumentative that is his business to be that way. I send my prayers out to tammi and her family.

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It sounds like self defense to me. Neighbors commented on how confrontational and argumentative the victim could be.  He threw a pipe at the suspect.  I would have assumed he was getting a gun. In Florida’s new “old west” culture of “shoot first and ask questions later” what do people expect is going to happen?  Probably only the first of many. If anyone is to blame here, I would blame the legislators for continuing to allow such lax firearm laws.

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This is the 2nd shooting inside a week within the Bay area and over what --- MONEY ---Money is the root of all evil, folks!!!  And this is just a prime example of how NOT to handle a dispute with a neighbor!!! One person is dead and the other might as well be, as everyday, he must live with what he has done. Have you not heard of anger management classes??  This is a downright shame !!!

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While I don’t condone killing someone over money, we don’t know the context of the argument these two had. Some of the neighbors in Cannons neighbor hood have said he was confrontational and argumentative even with them. He could have been going in the house to get a gun himself. He threatened the guy with a pipe that he allegedly threw at the suspect. I’d bet anything there is shared responsibility here on both these guys part. Now one person is dead, Two family’s lives are forever changed. Over what. Money. How insane.

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I think that’s awful kind of him.

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