Highway crime suspect appears in court days after fatal shooting in Riverview on US 301

RIVERVIEW, FL – The man was charged with committing a fatal shooting on the road on US 301 in Riverview appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.

Kentavius Gholston, 26, was arrested Monday afternoon and faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. The Hillsborough County The sheriff’s office said 61-year-old Stephen Powers was shot and killed in an incident on US 301 near Bloomingdale Avenue Sunday afternoon.

Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said Powers and his adult grandson were traveling on US 301 toward Bloomingdale Avenue in their work van around 2:15 p.m. Chronister said a black Mazda driven by Holston allegedly cut them off.

He said Powers honked and Gholston answered.

“He decides to start investigating our homicide victim,” Chronister said.

The sheriff said Holston stopped his car in the middle of the road and then Powers got out of his van.

“He’s coming to the car,” said Chronister. “When our murder suspect comes out from the driver’s side of the car, our elderly gentleman punches, misses. He redirects it and pushes it to the ground. That’s when the threat passed.”

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However, according to investigators, Gholston pulled out a gun and shot Powers three times.

“He’s already defenseless,” said Chronister. “He falls to the ground. Our murder suspect, seeing that he is still alive, says, “I have to finish work.” Goes and shoots two more times.”

Powers was shot four times, according to investigators. The sheriff said Powers’ grown grandson got out of the van, and then Holston pointed a gun at the grandson before getting back in the car and driving away.

Chronister said a debit card dropped on the ground during the incident and cellphone video helped identify Gholston.

“There’s even one dashcam video that we got that shows our homicide suspect running a red light, where we get a good image of the tag,” Chronister said.

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CCTV cameras from the school across the street also recorded the incident. Investigators said Gholston abandoned his car near an apartment complex and removed the license plate.

“He also disassembles the firearm and throws it into the retention lake, the pond where the car was parked,” Chronister said.

The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that its dive team was still searching for the gun. HCSO said Gholston turned himself in Monday afternoon.

Powers’ longtime girlfriend is heartbroken over his loss.

“He was a good person,” said Vivian “Vicki” Mayer. “He was an honest person. He was a hardworking person. And he was a loving person.”

She said he was a fixer and always wanted to help people. Mayer hopes to be remembered for what he has done for others.

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“He was always there for anyone who needed him,” Mayer said. “All night and day. He was there, didn’t ask questions, didn’t want anything in return.”

On Tuesday, a judge ordered Gholston to remain in court pending a bond hearing scheduled for next week.

“He is clearly a danger to society because he cannot control his temper,” said Hillsborough State’s Attorney Suzy Lopez.

Lopez said Gholston is on probation and does not have a gun license.

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