ST. PETERSBURG – Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit have arrested 20-year-old Sean-Michael Cooper for Attempted Murder and Residential Burglary with Battery.
According to detectives, on January 2, 2024, at approximately 3:39 a.m., deputies assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau responded to a residence in unincorporated St. Petersburg for a Burglary in progress. Once deputies arrived, they located Cooper standing outside of the residence with blood on him. The deputies found the victim, a 22-year-old female, suffering from significant injuries inside the residence. The victim was able to tell deputies that the suspect, Cooper, was the one that attacked her.
Through their investigation, detectives learned that the victim had returned to her residence from work when she found Cooper inside in the dark. The victim advised detectives that Cooper attacked her by striking her in the head with a large glass pipe, spraying her with pepper spray, and then striking her multiple times with a metal frying pan. Detectives say Cooper then choked the victim, took the victim’s phone, told her he would stage an attack, and instructed her to remove her clothes so he could sexually batter her. When the victim refused, Cooper threatened to kill the victim, along with her cats and mother. Cooper then continued to strike the victim until she became unconscious.
According to detectives, Cooper made numerous inconsistent statements and had injuries to his face and neck consistent with the victim attempting to defend herself.
Cooper was arrested and charged with one count of Attempted Murder and one count of Burglary with Battery and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
The victim was transported to the hospital with serious non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation continues.
