HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is investigating what led up to a shooting that left one person dead in east Tampa.
On Friday, Tampa Police said they were dispatched to the 3600 block of E. Shadowlawn Avenue for a report of someone possibly being shot. TPD said officers found an abandoned black four-door car and that there were several visible pools of blood in and around the car, but no apparent victims.
Then, police said they were notified that four men with gunshot wounds, three in their early thirties and one in his late thirties, had been taken by a private car to a local hospital. Tampa Police said one of the men in his early thirties later died because of his injuries.
"No zip code is really safe or immune from the gun violence," said Johnny Johnson, the Vice President of Rise Up for Peace, a group that stands against gun violence.
Johnson's son, Jayquon, was shot and killed in 2017. To him, gun violence is personal.
"Not only just my son, I lost three first cousins to gun violence in the community, and with that, just with any parent receiving that news or any loved, significant, siblings, anyone getting that phone call is devastating," said Johnson.
Rise Up for Peace was awarded $5,000 through TPD C.A.R.E.S. funding, meant to help community partners engaged in projects and programs benefiting the people of Tampa.
"They see our vision, but it takes funding to bring things to reality, so that's one step in them saying yes, we believe in your vision. We stand in solidarity," said Johnson.
Still, Johnson said it takes the community to do their part and get involved. The organization is holding a Back to School Fun Day on Saturday, August 5th from noon to 4:00pm located at King Forest Park at 8008 E. Chelsea Street.
"It's guns being stolen out of cars, locking cars. It's communities coming together letting the perpetrators know that we're not going to stand for the shooting," said Johnson. "There's better ways to handle our conflicts in situations or our dislike for each other."
Police are asking for anyone with any information on the homicide investigation that could help identify and arrest those involved to call TPD at 813-231-6130 or Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS.
