Ybor City Mass Shooting Suspect To Remain In Jail Until Trial

TAMPA, FL — The man accused of fatally shooting a teenager on Halloween weekend in a mass shooting in Ybor City has been ordered by a judge to remain in jail until his trial.

The mass shooting in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood killed a 14-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man, and injured 16 people. Tyrell Phillips, 22, is accused of shooting 14-year-old Elijah Wilson who died at the scene, according to court records.

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

A judge ruled Monday that Phillips will stay in jail, the State Attorney’s Office told WFLA. Prosecutors argued in court that Phillips is a danger to the community, and fired shots without anyone else pulling a gun.

Phillips’ father told the judge his son acted in self-defense and asked for his release from jail, WFLA reported.

“My son is righteous and he’s responsible and he’s accountable and he has an incredible amount of integrity,” Terrell Phillips said.

Two feuding groups of teens and young adults got into a gunfight in the 1600 block of East Seventh Avenue at 2:47 a.m., shortly before the nightclubs and bars let out at 3 a.m., releasing a mass of revelers into the streets of Ybor City.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested Nov. 16 in Palm Beach in connection with the shootings in Ybor City, according to a WFLA report. The teen was charged with felony counts of possessing a firearm as a minor and carrying a concealed firearm after authorities said he displayed a gun during the shooting before fleeing the scene.

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.

Among those wounded, 15 suffered gunshot wounds. The victims ranged in age from 18 to 27 years old, Bercaw said.

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. He pleaded guilty to the drug charge and a reduced charge of reckless driving. He was released from jail for time served.