13-Year-Old Arrested In Shooting Of Another Teen In Tampa

TAMPA, FL —Tampa police have arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with the shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Tampa on Thursday.

On the afternoon of Sept. 7, Tampa police responded to a report of a shooting near East Seneca Avenue and East Jasmine Avenue. Minutes later, another call came in from a few blocks away reporting a 15-year-old male was the victim of the reported shooting, which was not fatal.

The investigation revealed that the victim and an acquaintance were walking to the 7-Eleven at 10906 N. Nebraska Ave. when they saw a group of boys they knew. The group walked toward the east side of Nebraska Avenue then south while the victim walked south along the median on Nebraska Avenue when the 13-year-old shot at the victim, striking him twice with gunfire. The 15-year-old victim returned fire. All parties then fled the scene. The 15-year-old was treated at the hospital for injuries that weren't life-threatening.

Police said the investigation quickly led to a 13-year-old boy who was arrested on Sunday near where the shooting occurred. At the time of his arrest, he was armed with a loaded handgun with one round in the chamber. At the time of his arrest, the teen had gunshot wounds on both of his lower legs. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated.

The teen was charged with two counts of minor in possession of a weapon, two counts of carrying a concealed firearm, discharge of a firearm in public and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.

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Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw and Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez hosted a news conference Wednesday at Tampa Police Headquarters to address the joint focus on ending juvenile-related gun crimes and how the community can help.

"I want the community to know how seriously my office takes juvenile gun violence. We are focused on making sure these juveniles are held accountable," Lopez said. "We must work together as a community to educate our young men and women about making smart choices. At the same time, the public can help by keeping guns out of your cars and keeping your doors locked."

MarQuav'is Hamilton, program director for Men of Vision Inc., also attended to discuss programming available to teens in the community as part of the Tampa Police Department's commitment to collaborate with local community outreach programs and nonprofit organizations helping us to make Tampa safer.

"We take any instance of gun violence involving youth very seriously," said Bercaw. "As a community, we need to work harder together to make sure that guns are not easily accessible to those who should not have them. We urge the community to provide tips, regarding any incident, that will help improve gun safety and keep guns out of the hands of our kids. Far too often we are seeing teens resolve a perceived issue by pulling a trigger. The Tampa Police Department will take an aggressive stance to ensure that our streets are safe and that our youth are protected. I can assure you that those who feel they are making adult decisions will face adult consequences."

"I want the community to know how seriously my office takes juvenile gun violence," said Lopez. "We are focused on making sure these juveniles are held accountable. We must work together as a community to educate our young men and women about making smart choices. At the same time, the public can help by keeping guns out of your cars and keeping your doors locked."

Lopez has vowed to prosecute minors who commit gun crimes as adults.

The Tampa Police Department provides a variety of programs focused on community youth, including the Police Athletic League (PAL), Shielding Our Teens and Bigs in Blue. The department also provides free gun locks to residents as part of our program called Project Locked & Unloaded. Community members can pick up a free gun lock at any one of the Tampa police district offices or Tampa Police Headquarters. For a detailed list of available programs, click here.

The Tampa Police Department is also committed to collaborative partnerships with local community outreach programs and nonprofit organizations, such as
Men of Vision Inc.