Ybor City shooting: TPD hosts town hall as search continues for additional persons of interest
YBOR CITY, Fla. - On Tuesday, Tampa police hosted a community "Town Hall" meeting in Ybor City. Dozens of business owners and residents came to the meeting to talk one-on-one with police about their concerns in the historic entertainment district following October’s deadly Halloween weekend shooting.
"The incident that occurred is not a reflection of the Ybor community, and understandably, this community has concerns, since then, that we want to address," stated Chief Lee Bercaw. "Everyone has the right to feel safe and should feel safe in the places they visit, work, and live. By hosting this town hall, we hope that together we can not only address their concerns, but work towards ensuring that the Historic Ybor City District remains a safe place for all."
Town Hall Tuesdays are an expansion of the department's community-oriented policing efforts.
A shooting in Ybor City killed two people and injured 16.
TPD says its town halls are meant to serve as an open forum and an opportunity for the public and the Tampa Police Department to come together and work towards collaborative efforts in preventing and reducing crime.
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Some residents voiced support for measures to keep minors out of Ybor City clubs and/or set a curfew for minors, while others didn’t think that was going to solve the problem.
There has also been an ongoing discussion about keeping 7th Ave. open later on busy nights in Ybor City.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw patrols Ybor City.
"That’s the million-dollar question," Bercaw said. "We’ve gone back and forth about whether to close it or whether not to close it. I said at city council, but I’m a proponent for leaving it open as long as possible, but there is some point where the safety of people coming out of the clubs, the sidewalks can’t handle that, so we have to have the streets cleared for that. So there’s the sweet spot of when to close it, and that’s what we’re fine-tuning."
Chief Bercaw says the last two weekends, 7th Ave. has stayed open until around 2:30 a.m. He has previously voiced his support for keeping 7th Ave. open as late as possible.
There were discussions at Tuesday’s town hall meeting about keeping kids and teens away from guns and violence, and about expanding community programs and resources for kids and teens.
Community members met with police during a town hall in Ybor City.
On Tuesday night, Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson said it’s going to take a village to promote this positive change, and that it starts at home.
"Sometimes, that partnership, when we’re dealing with our youth, who have so much at their fingertips, but their age and their maturity, they don’t know how to deal with it," Johnson said. "A lot of these shootings, like the Chief said, they happen within 10 to 15 seconds, because somebody has not told their child to take a deep breath when you get upset."
Bercaw said the shooting on October 29 escalated in a matter of seconds from what began as a fight between two groups.
"So, when they don’t have that conversation, their youth and their kids are learning how to resolve these issues by what they see on T.V." Johnson said. "By what they see on certain videos that they think are cool. But they don’t understand, at times, once you pull that trigger, that person may not be coming back ever."
To date, only one arrest has been made in connection to the shooting that left two dead and 16 others injured.
RELATED: Ybor City shooting: A look at the victims killed, injured after gunfire erupted Sunday morning
Police say they were able to quickly arrest 22-year-old Tyrell Phillips thanks to witness video from the shooting.
Tampa police are still searching for 7 persons of interest. Image is courtesy of TPD.
Phillips is accused of firing into Ybor’s crowded main drag in the early morning hours of October 29, at a time when throngs of revelers dressed in Halloween costumes were emptying out of bars and clubs for the night.
Detectives say Phillips was part of a group of people that began arguing in the middle of 7th Avenue with another group. They say he was one of several people who pulled a gun and fired.
Tampa police are still searching for 7 persons of interest. Image is courtesy of TPD.
Last week, TPD released video and still images of seven "persons of interest" it believes are connected to the shooting. Detectives are asking for the community’s help identifying the men.
Anyone with information is asked to call TPD at 813-231-6130, send a tip via TIP411, or contact CrimeStoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-8477.