TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa Police officer discharged a firearm late Saturday night during a foot chase that began as a narcotics investigation in the Hyde Park area. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on March 14, 2026, after an officer spotted two individuals in an alleyway on the 400 block of South Howard Avenue.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the officer was conducting enhanced patrol safety initiatives when he observed what appeared to be drug-related activity. As the officer approached, one man fled on foot, allegedly dropping a small bag of narcotics in the process.
The officer pursued the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Marco Fragoso, but briefly lost sight of him during the chase.
The pursuit ended a few blocks away when the officer located Fragoso hiding near a vehicle in a residential driveway on the 400 block of South Albany Avenue. Police reports state that the officer fired a single round after Fragoso made a motion toward his waistband.
READ: Lakeland Man Claims ‘Shower And Sleep’ Led To Resisting Arrest Charges
The bullet did not strike Fragoso, and no injuries were reported for either the suspect or the officer.
Fragoso was taken into custody immediately following the shot. He now faces several charges, including possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest without violence.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave. The Tampa Police Department has launched a preliminary investigation into the shooting, which remains the standard procedure for any officer-involved discharge of a weapon.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
