TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa police detectives are looking for two men who they said were involved in a shooting as people left a club.
The shooting happened around 3 a.m. on February 2 and outside of Medusa Lounge, which is located on Armenia Avenue.
According to police, the suspects falsely accused the victim and his friends of stealing a bracelet. There was a fight outside of the club. The victim, Joshua Johnson, said he tried helping a friend who they would not leave alone.
“I don’t like to argue so I pushed the guy away. He rushed me so I hit him,” Johnson said.
Police said the fight escalated; one suspect shot Johnson in the chest and the other suspect shot at the crowd and into the air, but no one else was injured.
“I don’t think it’s fair that there’s people out there -especially young kids- who are....that are, you know, quick to shoot,” Johnson said.
Detectives have surveillance video of the incident. They are confident someone will recognize the two suspects. Detective Scott Savitt said the victim is lucky.
“If that bullet had been two inches to the other side, he would not have been able to explain what happened. He wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be able to come home to his kids,” Savitt said.
Johnson called 911 after he was shot. He has three children.
“The first thought was ..I’m never going to see my kids again. So I was either going to not breathe and die or call 911 (and) fight to stay alive,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he spoke about the shooting to ABC Action News to help detectives catch the suspects.
“I got very lucky. Maybe the next guy is not going to be able to wake up the next day and see his kids,” Johnson said.
If anyone has any information about this investigation, they should call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay.
