Crime
St. Petersburg doctor 59-year-old Stephen Andrew Leedy arrested after allegedly instructing young girls to film sex acts while injuring themselves
St. Petersburg, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Stephen Andrew Leedy (59, St. Petersburg) on charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material and coercion of minors to engage in sexual activity.
The Charges:
- Three counts of production of child sexual abuse material
- Two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity
Potential Penalty:
- Life in federal prison, if convicted on all counts
Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay area, allegedly used the online alias “maximumuncle#9112” to exploit and abuse approximately ten minors.
Through online interactions, Leedy is accused of instructing these minors to produce sexually explicit content and to engage in self-harm, including cutting, choking, and hanging.
Tragically, one of the victims, identified as Minor Victim 1, was found deceased by hanging in November 2021, in a manner consistent with Leedy’s prior instructions.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing, and Leedy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
This case is the result of a collaborative effort by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Tampa Office, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, the FBI’s Atlanta Office, and the Holly Springs Police Department.
The prosecution will be handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood 1 unites federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children and to rescue victims.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.