A Florida DoorDash driver was tragically kidnapped and sexually assaulted, with the assailant subsequently opening fire on her rescuing family members. Joseph Killins, a 38-year-old man, was apprehended by authorities in connection with the harrowing April 18 incident that occurred in Tampa.
The female driver, in her 20s, was reportedly forced by Killins to drive to an apartment at the Belara Lakes Apartment complex at gunpoint around 11 p.m. It was in this location where the heinous sexual assault is said to have taken place.
As she remained at the apartment, the driver’s family, who had been monitoring her cellphone location, arrived to rescue her. It is not clear how they determined that she was in danger.
Upon the family’s arrival, Killins allegedly opened fire on them, striking a female family member in her 20s. Following this act of violence, he made his escape from the scene. In another frightening event the following day, Killins assaulted a woman in her early 40s at the same apartment complex. He reportedly threw her to the ground, punched her in the face, and stole her backpack before fleeing towards the Haven Waters Edge Apartment complex.
Detectives working on the two cases joined forces, ultimately leading to Killins’ apprehension. Authorities tracked him down at the Tampa Inn hotel on Friday night, where he was arrested. Killins now faces a litany of charges, including armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, armed sexual battery, and aggravated battery with a weapon. Additionally, he has been charged with robbery in relation to the April 19 attack.
Currently, Killins is being held at the Orient Road Jail as the investigation into these crimes continues.