Main Menu

Tampa Man Accused of Murdering Estranged Wife

Lenton Chambers | Hillsborough Sheriff | Arrests

At the time of the murder, deputies said they were trying to serve an Order of Protection on the wife’s behalf. The two were getting a divorce and had a series of incidents of domestic violence, Hillsborough sheriff’s deputies said.

TAMPA – A Tampa man was arrested in connection with the murder earlier this month of his estranged wife, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

Evelyn Chambers, 35, of Tampa, was found shot to death Friday (Sept. 7) inside her Sugarcreek Drive home. She had two children who were not home at the time of the shooting.

Lenton Chambers Jr., 35, of Tampa, was charged with one count each of first degree murder with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and shooting into an occupied dwelling. All are felonies.

Mrs. Chambers’ murder came after several months of domestic incidents, some involving violence. The Chambers were in the process of getting a divorce at the time of the shooting. Hillsborough deputies said they had been trying to serve an Order of Protection signed by a Hillsborough County judge on Chambers at the time of the murder.

A timetable of events from HIllsborough sheriff’s records:

Jan. 7
Non-violent dispute between the two over Chambers’ taking his wife’s phone.

March 4
Allegations from each individual of a physical altercation against the other. Chambers is arrested as a result of this incident. Case was “no filed” by the State Attorney’s Office on April 2 because of a “lack of evidence” and “not being able to disprove the defendant’s self-defense claim.”

April 27
Chambers was allowed in the home by Mrs. Chambers’ children. When she arrived later in the evening, she let him remain in the home and she went to sleep. Deputies said Chambers woke Mrs. Chambers up around 3 a.m. while holding a gun and accused her of having compromising photos of herself on her phone. He told her he wasn’t going to shoot her but wanted to scare her. He left the home with her phone.

Later that day, after work, Chambers returned to the residence looking for another man in the house. Mrs. Chambers tried to retrieve her phone from him and a struggle ensued where he kicked her twice in the head.

April 28
Chambers was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The Hillsborough County state attorney filed an additional charge of battery – improper exhibition of a firearm based on the April 27 incident. The case stemming from these charges was scheduled for a jury trial Oct. 1.

Aug. 27
Court Issues an Injunction against Chambers preventing contact with Mrs. Chambers. Received by the Hillsborough sheriff’s service of process unit later that afternoon

Aug. 28
Deputy assigned to serve the injunction against Chambers.

Aug. 29
First Attempt at service. Chambers was not found. Mrs. Chambers called 911 and said she believed Chambers tried to disable her car and that he had followed her that day. She told the responding deputy that CHambers knew there was an injunction against him even though it had not been officially served and that he was angry about it.

Sept. 4
Second Attempt at service. Chambers was not found.

Sept. 7
Lenton Chambers killed Evelyn Chambers, deputies said.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Murder | Domestic Violence | Arrests | Tampabay News

#HillsboroughSheriff #Crime #Murder #DomesticViolence #Arrests #TampabayNews