Tampa mayor tells police hunting for killer to 'bring his head to me'

There have been three killings in 11 days in the Florida city

The mayor of Tampa, Florida said to police hunting down a suspected killer to “bring his head to me, all right?”

Mayor Bob Buckhorn, responding to city residents' concern over a string of three murders in 11 days, was speaking to dozens of police officers when he added: "Let's go get it done."

"This guy is not going to win," the mayor said in the Seminole Heights neighbourhood of Tampa Bay, according to NBC News.

Mr Buckhorn did not mince his words: "We are going to hunt this son of a b**** down until we catch him." Local police are being assisted by state authorities and the FBI.

According to police, the first killing was on 9 October when Benjamin Mitchell, 22, was shot dead at a bus stop.

Monica Caridad Hoffa was found with fatal gunshot wounds in a vacant lot on just four days later.

Then on 19 October Anthony Taino Naiboa was shot and killed simply walking down the street.

Despite the spate of killings in such a short period of time and in close proximity, police have avoided using the term "serial killer."

"We don't have enough information for those type of labels," said Tampa's Interim police chief Brian Dugan.

Dugan noted that the police "have not used that label because we don’t want people to focus in and start being close minded and looking at one specific type of stereotype that people may have when you throw a label on something."

City workers have been assisting police as well by boarding up abandoned homes and replacing broken street lights.

There is some video footage from 9 October near the location of Mr Mitchell's death which shows a possible suspect and police have reached out to those with home surveillance systems as well.

A $25,000 reward is on the table for anyone containing information on the killings that could lead to an arrest.

With the upcoming Halloween holiday coming up and families worried as children go door-to-door trick-or-treating, Mr Dugan said he would personally be out on patrol with several other officers to ensure the safety of residents.