TAMPA, Fla. — Police say two people were killed early Sunday after a fight between two groups escalated in a popular entertainment district in Tampa, Florida, authorities said.
The Tampa Police Department said just before 3 a.m. Sunday, officers were called to the 1600 block of E. 7th Avenue for a shooting. Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a news conference, according to The Associated Press, that it was in the Ybor City entertainment district.
Suspect in custody
Update 5:19 p.m. EDT Oct. 29: In an update Sunday, Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw said that a suspect was in custody, WFLA-TV reported.
Tyrell Stephen Phillips, 22, of Tampa, was arrested early Sunday and charged with second-degree murder, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
According to police, a 14-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were killed when gunfire erupted at about 2:47 a.m. EDT in Tampa’s Ybor City district, WTVT reported.
Officials said 16 victims were hospitalized, with 15 suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the television station.
Bercaw told reporters that the shooting was triggered by a dispute between the suspect and another person, WFLA reported.
“Between these two groups, we had hundreds of innocent people involved that were in the way,” Bercaw said.
The police chief said it was using video footage from witnesses to piece together what happened and to possibly find other potential shooters, WTVT reported.
“We make arrests quickly and with a sense of urgency,” Bercaw said. “If you commit a crime in Tampa, you are going to pay for it, and you are going to be charged. Thanks to the community who came forward after we asked for tips, we were able to quickly charge the suspect with second-degree murder in this case.”
22-year-old Tyrell Stephen Phillips (DOB: 12/24/2000) has been arrested and charged with second degree murder in connection to the fatal shooting.
— Tampa Police Department (@TampaPD) October 29, 2023
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Original report: Investigators say that a fight between two groups happened and led to a shooting. One victim died at the scene and 19 others were taken to the hospital. A second victim died at the hospital from their injuries.
“It was a disturbance or a fight between two groups. And in this fight between two groups we had hundreds of innocent people involved that were in the way,” Bercaw said, according to the AP.
The fight happened in an area that had multiple clubs and bars, Bercaw said, according to the AP. At the time of the incident, there was a large number of people out.
It is not clear if the people involved in the fight had been in any of the bars or clubs beforehand.
Bercaw said that one suspect surrendered to police, the AP reported. Police believe that there were at least two shooters.
“Our thoughts are with the victims impacted by this senseless act and our detectives are committed to holding those involved accountable,” Bercaw said.
The ages of the victims and their names have not been released.
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