TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department said a 16-year-old boy is facing aggravated assault charges after multiple shots were fired at an unmarked police cruiser on Tuesday evening.
The incident happened around 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers were on proactive patrol near North 54th Street and East 28th Avenue in Tampa.
Tampa Police said the officers saw a group of people outside a home when the suspect fired at their unmarked cruiser. There were three officers in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Interim Chief of Police Lee Bercaw said the cruiser was hit by at least one bullet. None of the officers were injured.
On Wednesday, the department announced the arrest of a 16-year-old boy for the shooting. Police said the suspect was found after neighbors and community members came forward with information.
TPD said the suspect is facing three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. ABC Action News is not identifying the suspect because he is a minor.
"Within hours of the shooting, detectives were able to identify and arrest those involved because of the assistance we received from concerned neighbors," said Interim Chief Lee Bercaw. "That pertinent information, along with surveillance video located in the nearby area, allowed officers to quickly take the shooter into custody. I commend all those who came forward and heeded the message we cannot repeat enough in law enforcement: if you see something, say something. I hope this incident shows just how much we can accomplish when we all work together."
Police said a gun was found during the arrest at a nearby home where the suspect tried to hide it.
"The big picture is our officers are okay. They're out here hardworking for the community to make it safer and tonight was a dangerous situation where fortunately, the officers were not hit by gunfire," said Bercaw.
Police said another teenager was with the suspect at the time of his arrest and was also arrested after he was found to have active warrants in his name. The second teenager, 17, is facing charges of aggravated battery great bodily harm firearm - great bodily harm/death, robbery with a firearm, and attempted murder in the first degree. Those charges are unrelated to Tuesday's shooting.
The 17-year-old was in possession of a gun at the time of his arrest, police said.
"Today, two guns are off the street, and a community is more at ease thanks to the partnership from concerned neighbors who did the right thing by coming forward with information that led to the arrests overnight," Bercaw said.
