The man wanted in a hit-and-run crash that killed three St. Petersburg women last week turned himself in to authorities Monday morning.
Marquice Lamonz Anderson, 27, whom detectives had been pursuing for days, surrendered at the Pinellas County Jail around 11:15 a.m. When he spotted a Bay News 9 camera in the parking lot, he ran into the building.
Dyril Flanagan, Anderson's attorney, said Anderson didn't turn himself in sooner because he was concerned about his safety in the wake of the community outrage.
Flanagan said he didn't know whether the arrest Sunday of Anderson's girlfriend, Brittany Donar, on obstruction charges influenced Anderson's decision. Donar, who was also charged with being an accessory after the fact, bonded out of jail early Monday.
Detectives say Anderson was speeding the wrong way down 16th Street N around 3 a.m. Thursday in a Chrysler that had been rented by Donar. The car smashed into a Saturn near Ninth Avenue S, and the Saturn burst into flames.
Cousins Briana Lequinda Campbell, 24, and Jamesia Chera Santoria, 21, died at the scene. Their aunt, Grace Collier, 25, died the next day at Tampa General Hospital.
Anderson had been wanted for vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, driving while license is suspended or revoked involving death and violation of probation.
Benton Campbell, Briana Campbell’s great grandfather, said his family is hurting but they hope justice will be served.
“They should give him what he deserves. I don’t know what it is but that’s what they should give him for what he did,” he said.
Anderson will have his first appearance in court Tuesday.