TAMPA (Florida, US), Oct 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with second degree murder in a shooting on a crowded street in Tampa, Florida, early Sunday morning, leaving two people dead and 16 others injured, authorities said.
The shooting started after a dispute between two groups broke out as hundreds of people were filing out of the bars and nightclubs in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood, just before 3 a.m. A 14-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man were killed, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said.
Tyrell Stephen Phillips, 22, was arrested and charged with second degree murder. said Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Of the 16 people injured, 15 were shot and one person had other serious injuries, Bercaw said. They were triaged at the scene and transported by Tampa Fire Rescue to nearby hospitals, Tampa police said in a statement.
“Many of the additional victims, who ranged in age from 18-27 years old, have been medically treated and released from the hospital. Five remain in the hospital, recovering from their injuries,” the statement said.
It was one of several shootings that took place amid celebrations across the country this weekend ahead of Halloween.
Tyrell Stephen Phillips now faces a charge of second degree murder with a firearm, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said Sunday afternoon. There is no attorney on record for Phillips, according to jail records.
Officers were able to charge Phillips “because of the community coming forward and assisting us in this investigation,” Bercaw said, noting police had received a “plethora” of tips since appealing to the public Sunday morning.
Police say two handguns were recovered at the scene, one of which was stolen. They are looking into whether other shooters were involved.
Authorities said they know there was a “disturbance or issue between the two groups,” and one unidentified male who they believe was involved in the incident, has “turned himself in, and detectives are interviewing him now.” They are also asking people for help by providing tips and videos.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said 50 Tampa police officers were deployed to the area when the shooting took place. — NNN-AGENCIES
