Tampa Police arrested Tyrell Stephen Phillips, accused of the shooting in Ybor City that left two dead and 16 wounded by gunshots. According to authorities, the 22-year-old will face charges of second-degree murder with a firearm. Detectives are working to reconstruct the incident, determine how it originated and identify all parties involved.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning during the Halloween celebrations on East 7th Avenue (Ybor City). Many people were circulating when the shooting began since it is an area with a lot of nightlife due to the presence of bars and restaurants,
According to information provided by Tampa authorities, the fatalities are a 14-year-old African-American teenager and a 20-year-old white man.
#ÚLTIMAHORA | El jefe de la policía de Tampa, Lee Bercaw, anunció que el sospechoso del tiroteo mortal en Ybor City, Tyrell Phillips, de 22 años, ha sido arrestado y acusado de homicidio en segundo grado. pic.twitter.com/u2L2KuTtmC
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) October 29, 2023
Lee Bercaw, Chief of the Tampa Police, gave a press conference and declared that "arrests were made with a sense of urgency." "If you commit a crime in Tampa, you will pay for it, and you will be charged. Thanks to the community that came forward after we asked for tips, we were able to quickly charge the suspect with second-degree murder. I just ask that everyone look at the victims and realize what has happened here, let them know that it is unacceptable and that if there is any motivation for someone to give us a clue, let that be the motivation," he added.
State Attorney Susy Lopez said, "The State Attorney's office is working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold wrongdoers accountable for this morning's despicable and horrific acts of gun violence in 7th Ave., historic Ybor City."
The mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor, voiced her regrets over what happened on her social networks. "Once again, a senseless loss of life by those who decide to settle a dispute with firearms. Lives were lost, and others changed forever. For what purpose?" she wrote.
"The Tampa Police Department had 50 officers deployed in the area at the time, so this is not a law enforcement issue. Poor split-second decisions and the proliferation of readily available weapons are responsible for these almost daily incidents. We can affect half of this equation," the official concluded.
