John Jefferson
Background: Kentavious Gholston, center, appears in Hillsborough County (Fla.) Court on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 (Thirteenth Judicial District of Hillsborough County/YouTube/WTVT). Inset top: Stephen Powers (WTVT/Facebook). Inset bottom: Gholston (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office).
A 61-year-old man in Florida driving around with his adult grandson on Monday was gunned down in broad daylight — taking four bullet rounds to his back after being thrown down in the street — during an “execution-style” road rage shooting, police say.
“A Sunday afternoon turned into a nightmare that cost a life, leaving a family shattered by this senseless violence,” explained Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a statement Monday after suspect Kentavious Gholston, 26, was taken into custody and charged.
The young man is facing a count of murder with a firearm in the second degree, aggravated assault with a firearm and tampering with physical evidence for the Oct. 27 incident in Riverview, which is located just outside of Tampa.
The victim, identified by local NBC affiliate WFLA as resident Steven Powers, was driving with his adult grandson on U.S. 301 at around 2:15 p.m. when Gholston allegedly cut them off in a black Mazda, according to police.
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Investigators believe that Powers, who was driving his work van, honked at Gholston — prompting Gholston to allegedly “brake-check” him before suddenly coming to a halt in the middle of the road.
What happened next, according to Chronister, was out of a Quentin Tarantino movie.
“[Gholston] approaches the car,” the sheriff told WTVT, a Fox affiliate out of Tampa Bay, and other local media at an Oct. 28 presser. “As our homicide suspect gets out of the driver’s side of that car, our elderly gentleman throws a punch, misses. He redirects him and pushes him to the ground.”
With Powers now “defenseless,” investigators believe Gholston allegedly pulled out a handgun and opened fire on him, initially shooting him two times in his back before checking to see if he was alive, according to police.
“Our homicide suspect, seeing that he’s still alive, says, ‘I’ve got to finish the job,’” Chronister told reporters. “Goes and fires two more rounds.”
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Powers’ grandson, who had been inside the van, quickly got out to check on his grandfather. “[Gholston] then looks and points the gun at him too,” according to Chronister.
After fleeing in his car, Gholston allegedly dumped the vehicle and his gun before turning himself in on Monday afternoon, per police. The weapon had not been found as of Tuesday, but security footage from a local school allegedly shows Gholston tossing it into a retention lake.
Another key piece of evidence, according to WFLA, was a debit card that Gholston allegedly dropped at the scene, which was traced back to him by cops.
Jail records show that Gholston is currently behind bars after being ordered by a Hillsborough County judge to be held without bond on Tuesday. He is facing a domestic violence battery charge, in addition to the charges from the shooting, for an out-of-county warrant he had, according to officials.
Family and friends of Powers have come forward to remember him and seek justice for what allegedly happened.
“Why?” asked Powers’ nephew, Larry Davis, in an interview with WFLA. “Something so stupid and simple. You took somebody’s life and you ruined yours.”
Powers’ brother, Thomas Powers, described him as a “hard worker” and a “loving, caring man” toward people.
“I just can’t understand why this happened,” Thomas said.
Chronister called the Powers killing an “execution-style murder” and “reckless act,” with Gholston showing a “complete disregard” for human life.
“Violence is never the answer, and this tragedy could have been entirely avoided,” he said in his statement Monday.
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