Murder suspect's girlfriend now missing

ST. PETERSBURG -- Gloria McNeal didn't like her daughter's new boyfriend the first time she met him.

"He was not good enough for my daughter," McNeal said. "This is a street person, a thug if you will. A drug-dealer type person."

McNeal's instincts were right. Her daughter's boyfriend, Emanuel Levar McCray, is wanted in connection with a murder and is on the run from police.

McNeal fears McCray, 22, may have her 18-year-old daughter with him. She hasn't seen or heard from her daughter, Jonicia McNeal, since Easter. She says Jonicia hasn't even updated her MySpace page since March 27.

"I'm very, very worried," McNeal said.

Jonicia is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has short black hair and a tattoo of either "Emanuel" or "Manuel" on one of her arms.

Police are investigating Jonicia's disappearance.

"We believe Jonicia was a witness to the homicide, and we would like to interview her," police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Police say witnesses saw McCray and Jason McDonald, 26, arguing in the parking lot of the motel at 275 34th St. S until the time of the shooting. McDonald was staying with someone at the motel, police said.

Police say drugs may have been involved in the argument before the shooting, although other factors may be responsible, as well.

McCray has a criminal record that includes arrests on firearms and drug-related charges, such as cocaine possession.

McNeal said she isn't sure how her daughter met McCray but said she fell hard for him and talked about marrying him.

"If anybody's seen her, please call the authorities," McNeal said.

Police ask anyone with information to call (727) 893-7164.

- Abhi Raghunathan, Times Staff Writer