TAMPA, Fla. – A neighborhood dispute in North Tampa took a violent turn Monday afternoon, ending with one man fighting for his life and another behind bars. Tampa Police moved quickly to apprehend 33-year-old Emanuel Watson shortly after gunfire erupted near the corner of N. 27th St and E. 97th Ave.
The chaos began just after 4:00 pm on February 16, when witnesses reported hearing shots and seeing a man in a bright orange hoodie sprinting away from the scene. When officers arrived, they found a man in his late 30s on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Police performed emergency first aid until paramedics could rush the victim to a nearby hospital, where he is currently listed in critical but stable condition.
According to investigators, the two men weren’t strangers. Detectives believe the shooting was the climax of a verbal argument that had turned into a physical fight. At some point during the scuffle, police say Watson pulled out a gun and opened fire before disappearing into the surrounding neighborhood.
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The search didn’t last long. Officers tracking the suspect found Watson hiding in a backyard just a block away on N. 26th St. He was taken into custody without any further trouble.
“The swift arrest of this suspect is a testament to the training and quick instincts of our officers who ran toward danger to save a life and make a neighborhood safer,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “An argument should never result in gunfire, and we will continue to hold those who resort to such senseless violence accountable for their actions.”
Watson is now facing several charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Orient Road Jail as detectives continue to process evidence from the scene.
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