Tampa boy, 9, injured by stray bullet in Grant Park, police say
TAMPA — A 9-year-old bystander was injured by a stray bullet fired as two groups fought and exchanged gunfire in Grant Park on Thursday, police said.
The shooting happened about 8 p.m. near the intersection of E 30th Avenue and N 54th Avenue, near the Grant Park Community Center, according to Tampa police.
The incident started when two groups started fighting, police said, then it escalated when they started shooting at each other.
The boy was shot by a stray round and taken to a nearby hospital. He was conscious and breathing at the time and was listed in stable condition on Friday, police said. Police did not release his name. Tampa police no longer release the names of victims due to Marsy’s Law, a voter-approved amendment to the state Constitution that was meant to protect crime victims but that deprives the public of information long available under Florida’s public records law.
The shooting remains under investigation and no arrests had been made on Friday.
Tampa police ask any witnesses to Thursday’s shooting to come forward.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477, send anonymous tips, video or photos to crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips app.
