Authorities in Tampa, Florida have charged a 22-year-old suspect with second-degree murder following an early Sunday morning shooting that left two people dead and sixteen injured.
Just before three in the morning, as hundreds of people were leaving the bars and nightclubs in Tampa’s Ybor City district, a fight between two groups erupted, setting off the shooting. The victims were a 22-year-old male and a 14-year-old kid, according to Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.
According to Bercaw, of the 16 injured, 15 had been shot, and one had more critical wounds. According to a statement from Tampa police, they were evaluated on the spot and taken by Tampa Fire Rescue to adjacent hospitals.
Numerous other victims, who were between the ages of 18 and 27, received medical attention and were later discharged from the hospital. According to the statement, five are still in the hospital getting better from their wounds.
18 individuals were hurt in the shooting, according to police earlier. Bercaw clarified that 16 people were hurt and 2 individuals died.
It was just one of many shootings that happened this weekend in the midst of Halloween celebrations around the nation.
According to Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, Tyrell Stephen Phillips is now being charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. This information was revealed on Sunday afternoon. According to jail records, Phillips does not have a lawyer on file.
Bercaw stated that the reason officers were able to prosecute Phillips was “because of the community coming forward and assisting us in this investigation,” adding that since releasing an appeal to the public on Sunday morning, police had received a “plethora” of information.
Bercaw stated, “See something, say something applies to anywhere.” “A mall might be where you are. A movie theater might be where you are. Perhaps you’re in Ybor. Please report anything suspicious to us right away if you see it anywhere.
Officers were there when the incident occurred, according to Bercaw, and they arrived quickly.
On Saturday night, a lot of people were out. Hundreds of people are out in the street when the bars close at three o’clock, according to Bercaw.
Two handguns were found at the site, one of which was reported stolen by the police. If there were additional shooters involved, they are investigating.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez stated that in reaction to the shooting on Sunday, her office is collaborating with law police.
“We are prepared to support the investigation and vigorously prosecute anybody who resorts to pointless gun violence and causes harm to our community,” Lopez declared on Sunday afternoon.
According to a statement from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released on X Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Field Division of the agency is present to support the investigation.
Bercaw stated, “It is tragic that families have to wake up and see what happened here tonight on the news.”
A male individual who has not been recognized but is suspected of being engaged in the event has “turned himself in, and detectives are interviewing him now,” according to the authorities, who acknowledge that there was a “disturbance or issue between the two groups.” They are also offering films and advice in exchange for assistance.
“This is a very complicated scene, but as of right now, we know that it was a disturbance or a fight between two groups,” Bercaw continued. “Hundreds of innocent people were involved in this fight between two groups because they were in the way.”
“That’s our request, and we need the community’s cooperation to accomplish it. We will hold those responsible and bring them to justice,” he continued.
Upon being questioned about whether or not they believed this incident to be connected to gang activity, the police chief responded, “That will be part of our investigation at this point because it is early in the investigation.”
50 Tampa police officers were sent to the scene when the incident happened, according to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
Some lives were lost, others irrevocably altered. To what purpose? In a statement, Mayor Castor mentioned X. “These nearly everyday events are caused by snap decisions gone wrong and the widespread availability of firearms. One side of this equation is within our control.