(DCWatchdog.com) – A harrowing Halloween incident has spoiled this year’s festivities as a mass shooting in Tampa, Florida, has caused the death of two people, while 18 others were left injured.
During the early hours of Sunday morning amid Halloween celebrations in Tampa, a tragic shooting incident (see video below) resulted in two fatalities and left at least 18 others injured, according to police reports.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw disclosed that the incident occurred around 3 a.m. following a confrontation between two groups, The Daily Caller reports.
Amid this altercation, two individuals allegedly commenced shooting in a bustling area known for its bars and clubs, according to AP.
Tampa police spokeswoman Jonee Lewis noted that “hundreds” of individuals were present outside when the violence erupted.
In a Sunday afternoon press conference, Bercaw revealed the identities of the deceased victims: a 14-year-old named Elijah and a 20-year-old white male.
Following the shooting, 16 victims were urgently transported to the hospital. The Tampa Police Department confirmed that 15 of these admissions were gunshot-related.
As of Sunday afternoon, most victims, aged 18 to 27, had been discharged from the hospital.
However, five individuals were still hospitalized, recuperating from their injuries.
Social media videos showed first responders attending to people in Halloween attire who sustained gunshot injuries on the sidewalk.
One video posted on the X platform captured the onset of the gunfire, which triggered widespread panic among the crowd.
The Tampa police have arrested 22-year-old Tyrell Stephenson Phillips, charging him with second-degree murder. Efforts to identify and capture a second suspect are ongoing.
“We make arrests quickly and with a sense of urgency,” Police Chief Bercaw said in a statement:
“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,” he added.
Emmitt Wilson, the father of 14-year-old Elijah, rushed to the scene upon learning of the shooting.
“It’s madness to me. I don’t even feel like I’m here right now. I hope the investigators do their job and find out who killed my son,” the bereaved parent said.
The motivation behind the shooting is still unclear and is currently under investigation, according to Fox News.
🚨 #BREAKING: Mass shooting during a Halloween celebration has left at least 18 people injured and 2 individuals deceased. 👀#YborCity | #Tampa | #Florida
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw has reported that the shooting occurred following a fight between two groups of… pic.twitter.com/O5Hr8NAd7g
— HumanDilemma (@HumanDilemma_) October 29, 2023
