Three people have been arrested in connection with a gruesome Florida fishing trip massacre that left three people dead.
Tony ‘TJ’ Wiggins, 26, Mary Whittemore, 27, and Robert Wiggins, 21, are behind bars in connection with the incident, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30, and Brandon Rollins, 27, were brutally beaten and shot to death at around 10 p.m. Friday night at a secluded Central Florida lake in Polk County.
Rollins managed to call his father and say, “Help,” bringing the older man to the scene. All three were pronounced dead when medics arrived.
The incident apparently started on Friday after the suspects spotted Damian Tillman inside a Dollar General store earlier in the evening. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd explained during a press conference on Wednesday that Tony Wiggins was waiting in line for the cashier when he saw Tillman also waiting in line.
Tony Wiggins was “the triggerman,” according to Judd. Prior to the shootings, Wiggins had already accumulated over 200 felony charges. His criminal life began when he was 12-years-old and continued until his latest arrest.
At the time of the incident, Wiggins was out on bond, on charges of breaking another man’s arm with a crowbar, Judd said.
Tony Wiggins allegedly overheard Tillman tell the store cashier he was on his way to go fishing. Tony Wiggins then told his accomplices to drive to the secluded, nearby lake off of US98.
“It’s way out in the country, a little clay road,” Judd said. “It’s used as ingress and egress for cow pastures, orange groves, and Lake Streety. It’s a road to no place, three miles long.”
As the suspects arrived at the scene, they saw two trucks parked side by side. The victims had their windows open talking to each other while still in their trucks. Tillman sat in one truck while Springfield and Rollins sat in the other.
Tony Wiggins, according to Judd, immediately got out of his vehicle, walked toward the trucks, and asked where Springfield was.
Tony Wiggins then spotted Springfield in one of the trucks, ran toward him with a gun, and asked, “Where’s my truck?”
“You sold the engine out of my truck,” Tony Wiggins shouted, according to Judd.
Springfield reportedly told Wiggins he didn’t know anything about his truck but it didn’t matter. Wiggins shot both Springfield and Rollins. Judd said at least nine rounds were fired.
“Then he turns on Damian,” Judd said. “[He] beings to shoot Damian, who’s got his door open in his truck, several times.”
Afterward, the suspects went to McDonald’s and ordered double cheeseburgers and McChicken sandwiches.
Although the other two suspects did not actively participate in the shooting, they did nothing to stop it, then took great measures to cover for Tony Wiggins, Judd said.
Tony Wiggins is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
Robert Wiggins is charged with tampering with evidence, accessory after the fact of a capital felony. Whittemore is charged with accessory after the fact of a capital felony.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Mary Whittemore, Tony ‘TJ’ Wiggins, & Robert Wiggins/Police Handout]
