Dontae Lampkins, a 25-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was found dead on January 26, 2017, in an alley in the Seminole Heights neighborhood. His death was ruled a homicide, and investigators determined he died from upper body trauma. Lampkins had disappeared after his sister dropped him off for a doctor's appointment two days earlier, on January 24. His body was discovered by a passerby who reported hearing gunshots earlier in the area.
Lampkins, who was openly gay, was believed by his family to be the victim of a hate crime, as his sister suspected his sexual orientation played a role in the attack. However, law enforcement has not confirmed this theory, and the case remains under investigation with no suspects publicly identified. His murder was one of several violent deaths in the Tampa area around that time, raising concerns within the community about targeted violence.
