2nd-Degree Murder Charge Filed Against 22-Year-Old In Ybor Shootings

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office has filed a formal charge of second-degree murder against a 22-year-old Tampa man in the wake of the Oct. 29 shootings in Ybor City that killed a 14-year-old boy, a 20-year-old man and injured 16 people.

Prosecutors filed charges against Tyrell Phillips on Friday, accusing him of shooting 14-year-old Elijah Wilson who died at the scene, according to court records.

Phillips pleaded not guilty and has retained private attorney David Parry.

Dressed in padded body armor, Phillips appeared at his pretrial detention hearing on Oct. 30. At the detention hearing, the judge ordered that he be held without bail until he was formally charged on Thursday.

The state attorney's office also filed a motion asking that Phillips be held in jail pending trial, contending that he is a danger to the community.

Judge Catherine Catlin was due to make a decision on the motion Thursday but continued the hearing with the approval of Phillips' attorney. A new hearing date has not been scheduled.

An arraignment on the charges is set for Nov. 28.

According to the arrest affidavit, Phillips approached police officers at the scene and admitted to firing a gun. Police found a loaded Glock 29 10mm pistol in his front waist pocket.

Phillips told police he was in Ybor with friends when he saw a former classmate and waved at her. Other witnesses said Phillips smiled at the girl who was a member of the other group, angering several members of the other group.

Phillips told police several members of the group approached him in an “aggressive manner" and one of the men spat at him.

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Phillips said another member of the group reached toward his waistband. He said he thought the person was reaching for a gun and, fearing for his life, shot the person who turned out to be the 14-year-old.

Video taken by bystanders and subsequently reviewed by police showed that Wilson was carrying a loaded gun in a holster. They said Wilson approached Phillips and other members of his group with his arms raised. As Wilson lowered his arms, Phillips fired at him, according to the affidavit.

Phillips said he fired twice and then began running from the scene. As he ran away, he told police he heard gunshots behind him.

According to witnesses, there had been an ongoing feud between the two groups of people in their teens and early 20s. Both Phillips and Wilson were self-professed rappers who considered themselves competitors and posted photos of themselves on social media posing with firearms, said witnesses.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw would not reveal if the shooting was gang-related or if the two groups had arranged beforehand to meet up in the parking lot in Ybor City where the shooting occurred.

While he said one of the two handguns recovered from the scene was stolen, he did not say whether it was the gun carried by Phillips or Wilson.

Phillips, whose job is listed on the Hillsborough County Jail website as a machine operator for Coca-Cola, was previously arrested in Hillsborough County in 2020 on charges of possession of marijuana and driving under the influence. Phillips pleaded guilty to the drug charge and a reduced charge of reckless driving. He was released from jail for time served.

The shooting took place in the 1600 block of East 7th Avenue at 2:47 a.m., just before bars and nightclubs closed at 3 a.m. Bercaw said this section of 7th Avenue is populated by the greatest number of bars and nightclubs in the entertainment district.

Bercaw said police are seeking at least two more shooters and are asking the public to upload videos and tips to an FBI portal set up specifically for this case.