TAMPA, Fla. – A Thursday afternoon shooting on the 3600 block of Machado Street ended with two teenagers behind bars and two others in the hospital, according to Tampa Police officials. The incident, which unfolded on April 16, 2026, triggered a massive overnight investigation that stretched across county lines.
When officers first arrived at the scene, they found an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds. Police provided emergency first aid until Tampa Fire Rescue could transport the victims to a local hospital. Both are expected to survive their injuries.
While early tips suggested three people might have been involved, detectives narrowed the focus to two primary suspects after spending the night collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
They eventually identified the shooters as 18-year-old Jaquez Lawson and 17-year-old Darrian Wise. Investigators characterized the shooting as a targeted confrontation rather than a random act of violence.
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The break in the case came when detectives tracked a 2015 silver Hyundai with “distinct damage” to a location in Parrish, Florida. Working with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, authorities caught up with Lawson and Wise as they were leaving a house that was under construction. Deputies took both into custody and recovered two firearms at the scene.
“This is a stark reminder of the tragedies that occur when teenagers have easy access to firearms and choose violence to settle disputes,” Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. He credited community tips and the partnership with Sheriff Rick Wells for the quick arrests.
Wise is currently facing charges of Attempted Murder and Minor in Possession of a Firearm, while Lawson is charged with Attempted Murder. Both suspects were booked into the Manatee County Jail and are waiting to be broguht back to Hillsborough County to face the charges.
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