On a summer afternoon in Saint Petersburg, Florida, the life of a dedicated city worker and mother of four was tragically cut short. Natasha "Tasha" Moses, a 47-year-old sanitation technician for the city, was shot and killed on July 22, 2026, while she was seated in the cab of her front-end loader in the Childs Park neighborhood. For 12 years, Tasha had been a familiar face in the community she served, a woman known for her kindness and dedication to her children. The attack was not random; it was a targeted act of violence that stemmed from a domestic dispute.
The man identified as the suspect, 43-year-old Ladavion King, was known to Tasha. Following an argument, King allegedly climbed into the cab of her work vehicle and shot her multiple times at close range. After the shooting, he fled the scene, sparking a multi-county police response. King was eventually located by the Florida Highway Patrol, driving south on Interstate 75. His attempt to escape came to a dramatic and violent end in Lee County, where law enforcement officers performed a PIT maneuver to stop his truck. A lengthy standoff ensued, during which King barricaded himself inside his vehicle. The confrontation escalated, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that left King seriously injured.
Following the standoff, Ladavion King was taken into custody and hospitalized for his injuries. He now faces a string of serious charges in two counties. In Lee County, his charges include attempted second-degree murder, fleeing and eluding police, and possession of a firearm by a felon, all stemming from the dramatic interstate standoff. In Pinellas County, he faces the most severe charges of first-degree murder for the death of Tasha Moses and another count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. King has a long and violent criminal history that includes convictions for carjacking, aggravated assault, and burglary. The case against King represents a quest for justice for Tasha Moses, a woman remembered by her family and community as a thriving, dedicated mother who was senselessly taken from them.
