Double homicide outside Tallahassee McDonald's becomes Stand Your Ground self defense case
A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the shooting that left two people dead outside a Tallahassee McDonald’s, though he has not been charged with murder.
The Tallahassee Police Department announced Friday, less than 24 hours after the shooting happened, that the incident was a Stand Your Ground case and that the boy was facing only charges of possession of a firearm by a delinquent and tampering with evidence.
However, State Attorney Jack Campbell later clarified the shooting remains under investigation and it was too early to say whether the boy acted properly under Stand Your Ground.
"This is obviously an extraordinarily serious case," Campbell told the Tallahassee Democrat. "And we're not going to rush to judgment in determining how this violence happened ... and what the circumstances are of this killing. We're going to wait until we get the evidence and then make a legal determination on that."
The shooting, which happened around 5 p.m. at the McDonald’s on West Pensacola Street, left two people, Trenton Tompkins, 21, and an 18-year-old man dead, TPD said in a news release.
The incident began with an argument involving Tompkins, the 18-year-old boy and others on basketball courts next to the Palmer Munroe Teen Center, TPD said in a news release.
“An off duty officer working at the center saw the group and attempted to make contact, but they dispersed in vehicles before he could engage with them,” TPD said. “The group then went to McDonald’s where two men continued arguing in the parking lot.”
At one point, Tompkins pulled out a firearm and shot the the 18-year-old, who died at the scene.
“Tompkins then turned toward another involved juvenile male, and in fear for his life, the juvenile shot Tompkins who succumbed to his injuries,” police said.
The juvenile fled the scene, but deputies with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office located his vehicle not long after and detained him.
"After consultation with the State Attorney's Office, this case is considered a Stand Your Ground case and the juvenile is being charged with possession of a firearm by a delinquent and tampering with physical evidence," TPD said in its news release.
The controversial 2005 Stand Your Ground law says people can use deadly force if they believe it necessary to prevent death or serious bodily harm. However, the statute also notes the law only applies "if the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be."
In 2022, two cases in Tallahassee were considered "justifiable homicides" under Stand Your Ground. Thursday's incident was the latest fatal shooting to be viewed under that lens of self defense.
So far in 2023, eight people have been killed and at least 31 injured in 41 shootings in the capital city and county, according to a Tallahassee Democrat analysis of gun violence.
The sound of gunfire sent customers inside the McDonald's into a panic as they ran for cover. Shoppers, construction workers and business owners in the neighboring Wesleyan Square shopping center also dropped everything after the shooting started.
“It was a little scary,” said Kevin Vo, owner of the Pro Nails salon. “We feel sad because two kids got shot.”
Vo, who’s been in business at Wesleyan Square for 12 years, said there have been at least four shootings in the shopping center over the past few years. Last October, an innocent bystander was killed and eight people were injured in a mass shooting across the street from the west-side McDonald’s.
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“We need officers on standby around this area just to make people feel more safe,” he said.
The morning after the shooting, McDonald's was open and serving a steady flow of customers in the dining room and drive-through. Loved ones of the 18 year old who was shot and killed left six heart-shaped balloons with hand-written messages to pay tribute to him.
"I love you brother," one of the messages says. "You will always be in my heart."
Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee McDonald's shooting becomes latest Stand Your Ground case
