In Tampa, Florida, a tragic incident unfolded when a dispute erupted between two factions on a bustling Halloween night, leading to a shooting that claimed the lives of a minimum of two individuals and left 18 others wounded. The incident transpired shortly before 3 a.m. in the vicinity of a row of entertainment establishments on the 1600 block of East 7th Avenue within the Ybor City district. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw provided this information to the media on-site.
Footage shared on the internet captures individuals dressed in Halloween attire, engaging in conversation and enjoying beverages on the street when gunshots suddenly resonate, causing a frantic rush of people.
In the chaos, a number of individuals tumble over metal tables and seek shelter behind them. Subsequent video recordings reveal law enforcement officers providing medical assistance to multiple individuals who were found injured and lying on the ground.
“They just said they had one person in custody, and I hope he’s the person,” Emmitt Wilson said.
Wilson expressed that his 14-year-old son, named Elijah Wilson, tragically lost his life in the shooting incident. Hailing from Tampa, Wilson conveyed to journalists present at the location that his son was a well-behaved young individual who happened to be in an unfortunate situation.
According to Bercaw, a single suspect, known only as a male individual, surrendered to the police. Law enforcement agencies suspect the involvement of a second shooter in the incident.
Immediate information regarding the status of the 18 individuals who were hospitalized with injuries has not been disclosed. Chief Bercaw mentioned that although some officers were present at the scene during the shooting, none of them sustained injuries. The investigation into the events that precipitated the altercation is still ongoing.
