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News Channel 8
By JASON GEARY
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - A 2-year-old boy was fatally shot Sunday morning, and police arrested his father, a convicted felon, on charges of possessing a firearm.
Timothy Jerome Addison, 37, of 9408 N. 15th St., told investigators the shooting occurred about 10:30 a.m. while he and his son, Timberlan Jerome Addison, were playing on a couch.
Addison told investigators he heard a shot ring out after his son grabbed a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun that was stuck between the couch cushions, said Larry McKinnon, a police spokesman.
“The father thought the round missed but quickly discovered [his son] had been shot in the chest,” McKinnon said.
Timberlan Addison
The boy was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he died, McKinnon said.
He said the shooting occurred while the boy was visiting his father for the weekend. The boy’s mother does not live with Timothy Addison, McKinnon said.
Renee Henderson, who lives across the street, said Addison was frantic when he showed up to her door with his son. She noticed blood on the boy’s chest.
“He brought the baby over here to me and asked me to call 911 for him,” she said.
Henderson described Timberlan, who often played with her 6-year-old grandchild, as a happy boy who was always clinging to his father. “He was a really good father to the boy,” she said.
Police arrested Addison and charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, McKinnon said.
Addison has previous convictions for drug and aggravated battery charges, according to criminal records. He remained in jail late Sunday on $7,500 bail.
McKinnon said investigators were trying to determine what happened and the State Attorney’s Office will be consulted about whether additional charges, such as manslaughter by culpable negligence, might be appropriate.
Addison told detectives the handgun usually is kept in a safe and he forgot it was between the cushions, McKinnon said.
While searching Addison’s home, investigators found a safe with guns inside, McKinnon said.
Some neighbors said Addison likely had guns for protection because his home had been burglarized before, and they noted the bars on his windows.
Tampa Police Crime Techs load evidence
taken from the house where a 2 year old was shot
and killed. Paul Lamison/News Channel 8
Fighting to speak through tears, Tawanna Stevenson, 25, a friend and former neighbor of Addison’s, said she heard about the shooting and drove straight over in disbelief.
Stevenson recalled Timberlan as a quiet, smiling baby. “All I can see is his face in my head - smiling,” she said.
Stevenson described Addison as a good father who took care of his children, wasn’t abusive and provided for them.
“He’s not the type of father that doesn’t take care of his kids,” she said.
Stevenson, mother of a 10-year-old and 5-month-old, said she doesn’t let her children play with toy guns. “This would be the reason why,” she said.
McKinnon agreed parents who choose to keep firearms in their home should put gun locks on them and keep them locked away.
Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.
Those who speak negative toward this man and his family, really don’t know them. Just for the short time I’ve known Tim, he’s been a loving and caring person for all he encountered. And any person with a heart can see this was an accident. God bless you Tim and may your son rest in peace.
I didn’t know this family, but i can feel the pain they must be feeling. When i read the story i could not hold back the tears. May little Tim rest in peace and my prayers go out to the whole entire family.
Having a gun in your home and being a convicted felon, that was an accident ready to happen and he caused it all. He knew he was not to have a weapon yet he chose to have one anyway. Put him in jail and let him rot for killing that little boy.
IF U KNEW THIS MAN, THEN U WOULD KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS CHILDREN AND HOW HE IS DYING INSIDE BECAUSE OF THIS. TIM IS A GOOD MAN AND LEARNED FROM HIS MISTAKES AS A YOUTH. YES HE HAS A JOB, AND NO HE DOES NOT SELL OR USE DRUGS.HE COMES FROM A STRONG ADN SUPPORTIVE FAMILY SO STOP STEREO-TYPING PEOPLE, THIS WAS A ACCIDENT AND I PRAY FOR TIM AND HIS FAMILY!
This sort of things always seem to happen in the low income areas.
Another precious child’s life is taken because of owning a handgun and not properly securing the weapon. Rules about guns are not to be taken lightly. So many children die and its so sad to see pics of their smiling faces and know they are now dead because of a MISTAKE! Are you kidding me! There are no room for mistakes. May his soul rest in heaven.
“Stevenson described Addison as a good father who took care of his children, wasn’t abusive and provided for them.”
....that provided for them by stealing, selling and having unlawful weapons. Great guy alright. Maybe he should have “protected” them by staying in jail!
Now I am no investigator but can’t the state attorney check their own records. 1989 Mr. Addison was in court, but never charged with “reckless display of a firearm” 2002 court records show he was arrested for “posession of marijuana with intent to sell” but was let off on that charge as well…maybe we should look into charging some people at the courthouse with allowing this man to be out of jail, not thinking of the welfare of the people he could endanger, or the lives he would destroy. I mean I’m no investigator but he also has chages for battery…violence, guns and drugs..makes for a wonderful bedtime story for the little one I guess. It don’t matter he’s already out on bond now.
Sorry I just don’t get it, a three time convicted felon with a loaded gun stuffed in a couch, a two year old baby find the gun and kills itself…Why in God’s name isn’t this man being held on the following charges; Child negelect, Child endangement with serious bodily injury/death, neglegent homicide…I don’t care what kind of neighborhood he lived in, he was not suppose to have any guns, let alone a fully loaded one stuffed in a couch, or was there drugs invloved and he feared getting ripped off. By the way since he is employed I hope our property tax dollars don’t go to a public defender, he’s had the same employer since his last arrest in 2002, let him pay his own legal fees.
Typical of the criminal element, and the apologists for criminals, that allow loaded guns within easy reach of toddlers. Expect the perp’s family and friends to make him out to be the victim next.
If you own a firearm, keep it locked up, plain and simple. How can people continue to be this ignorant? A loaded gun under a cushion, with a toddler present. If this sounds like you, do something, before it is your child, or your life lost.
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Posted by Stan Austin, Tampa on 11/27 at 11:45 AM
Many people think that this was just an accident. Where was the father at the time of the shooting? The news says that he was PLAYING with his child at the time of the ACCIDENT. How is this possible. He must have not been taking care of him after all. Who else was in the house at the time of this accident. What REALLY happened?