August 25, 2020
By: Staff Report
TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help to identify the suspect(s) responsible for a shooting death that occurred on eastbound Interstate 4 on Monday afternoon.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, a 911 call was received about shots fired in the eastbound lanes of I-4 near County Road 579. Both HCSO and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the area. When deputies and troopers arrived at the scene, no suspect(s) or victims were located.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received notification from South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City where a victim and vehicle had arrived with multiple gunshots to the exterior of the car. The victim, a 17-year-old male, had been shot and later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries. There were two other juveniles in the car with the victim at the time of the shooting.
Eastbound I-4 was shut down from McIntosh Road to Branch Forbes Road while detectives canvassed a two-mile stretch of the interstate searching for evidence. The suspect(s) and suspect vehicle remain at large at this time.
“We do not believe this was a random act of violence,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “It appears these three juveniles were targeted for some reason. I’m urging anyone who saw anything suspicious on I-4 this afternoon to please come forward with that information.”
Detectives are searching for a late 1990s model Ford Taurus, tan in color with possibly a gold tint to it. There are no other identifying marks known at this time.
Anyone with information that could lead to the identification of the suspect(s) or the suspect vehicle is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200. In order to be eligible for a cash reward up to $5,000, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
