Tampa Police began investigating a homicide yesterday morning in the 1800 block of E. 8th Avenue. Officers were dispatched to a report of a deceased male in the park. Upon arrival they found an adult black male victim with upper body trauma. Patrol officers immediately began canvassing the area for possible witnesses who might have seen something. Throughout the day, homicide detectives were able to track down witnesses who had observed portions of the incident. Due to his familiarity with the population of his patrol zone, an officer assigned to the area was able to assist detectives with the identification of the suspect, 47-year-old black male Darian Lamont Daniels (DOB 04/10/75).
Detectives worked diligently with the State Attorney's Office to obtain an arrest warrant just hours after the offense occurred. The US Marshal's Task Force adopted the case and began to search for the violent offender. Earlier today, Daniels was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail, charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
Tampa Police officers work tirelessly to build trust in our community and create lasting cooperative partnerships so that we can reduce and solve crime. We cannot do it alone. This case is an excellent example of how quickly a homicide case can be solved with the help of the community. On 7/14/22, Tampa Police also solved a homicide in New Tampa within 24 hours of the incident, mostly due in part to the community's assistance. We value the relationships that allow us to move forward swiftly, to keep Tampa safe.