TAMPA – At Curtis Hixon Park, a comfortable “winter village” was shattered by gunfire with simply an hour left in 2024.
Solely an hour into 2025, simply two blocks away, on the intersection of Tampa and Cass, a downtown intersection was lined in proof markers.
At Curtis Hixon Park, a comfortable “winter village” was shattered by gunfire with simply an hour left in 2024.
Within the first incident, Tampa Police say a safety guard in his late 30s was attempting to shoo a bunch of teenagers off property close to the Tampa Museum of Artwork when he heard a pop, and realized he’d been hit.
“Folks just like the sufferer on this case, the safety guard, are heroes,” stated Maj. Eric DeFelice. “They are going on the market understanding the dangers that they face frequently and doing it anyway. So I would prefer to thank him for what he did to assist us.”
Within the second incident, police say two teams of teenagers had been having an altercation when the taking pictures began.
A sixteen-year-old teenaged woman was hit within the decrease leg by a bullet.
READ: Tampa police investigating taking pictures that injured teenage woman: TPD
There may be surveillance footage, nonetheless temporary, of that one.
“We all know how phrase travels and issues are heard the subsequent day,” stated DeFelice. “In case your baby was concerned, possibly they did not have a firsthand account of what occurred, however possibly heard or noticed one thing. Please let the Tampa Police Division know.”
Police say they’d sturdy deployments of officers on common patrol, undercover ones and even detectives.
TPD says this ought to be a reminder to folks who let their teenagers go downtown throughout high-profile celebrations with out supervision.
“I would say for them to assume twice about that. They must be there. They should maintain their youngsters accountable,” stated DeFelice. “Letting youngsters roam round out there may be not the most secure factor to do for them.”
Sadly, they are saying extra mother and father did not ensure that their youngsters went to safer gatherings, like the town’s Keep and Play program that was held at totally different group facilities from 6pm to midnight.
Anybody with data is requested to name Tampa Police.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
