In the wake of a shooting in Ybor City that killed two people and left more than a dozen others injured, a city leader is proposing a temporary 1 a.m. close time for businesses in the area.
The temporary measure would last for six months while the city studies violence in Ybor and possible solutions, a press release said.
Officers responded to the shooting just before 3 a.m. on Sunday morning. A 14-year-old boy and a 20-year-old were killed in the shooting, and 15 others were injured.
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyrell Phillips and charged him with second-degree murder, and they believe there are more suspects involved.
According to police, the shooting happened in the 1600 block of East 7th Avenue after a fight. Several bars and clubs in the area were busy as people celebrated ahead of Halloween.
Video posted online shows people in Halloween costumes drinking and talking on the street when shots ring out, creating a stampede.
One of the people killed was identified by his father as 14-year-old Elijah Wilson. His father, Emmitt Wilson, recounted seeing his son's body on the ground.
"It's painful, man, to see your child laying there," Emmitt Wilson told ABC Action News. "And there's nothing I can do but stand behind the yellow tape and just watch them take his body away. I can't go see him. This is my last time seeing him. It's, it's hard."
The 20-year-old victim was identified by his mother as Harrison Boonstoppel.
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On Wednesday, City Council member Gwendolyn Henderson announced plans to propose the temporary closing time during a meeting on Thursday.
Henderson's district includes Ybor City.
“Senseless acts of gun violence are always difficult. When it’s nearby, the reality is horrific, so I have spent the past several days talking with Ybor residents, Ybor business owners, law enforcement, and Mayor Castor about what steps we can take to eliminate an environment that promotes violence during the late hours in Ybor City," Henderson said in a press release. “It is true that there is no one-size-fits-all or flawless solution, but I am confident that we will make a difference.”
Tom DeGeorge, the owner of Crowbar in Ybor City, does not agree with Henderson's plan to close businesses early.
Though his live music venue normally closes before midnight and would not be generally affected under such a proposal, he thinks the closure would unfairly punish other businesses in the entertainment district for no discernible reason.
“Acting like, ‘Oh, if we just shut down businesses, crime’s going to end,’ we saw that that didn’t happen during the pandemic when none of these businesses were open," DeGeorge said. “It’s not going to solve the problem. We need our city leadership to work with our businesses to do the real work and solve the problem, instead of going for lazy, low-hanging fruit that’s not going to solve anything. We need real leadership.”
Instead, DeGeorge would like to see lawmakers pass effective gun measures, invest more in mental health counseling, and launch more community programs which help deter young people from gun crimes.
In a Wednesday news conference, Mayor Jane Castor did not endorse the idea of closing Ybor City businesses early but said it is worth studying.
"We’re looking into the legality," she said. “That is one of many angles that we could explore.”
She did say she supports a curfew for juveniles in Ybor City while studying the other options.
In addition to the temporary closing time proposal, a press release said Henderson will make additional motions Thursday directing city staff to do the following:
- Keep E. 7th Avenue open to traffic even during closing time on Fridays and Saturdays to limit loitering.
- In addition to CRA funding, identify sources of revenue to expand community policing and step up code enforcement to crack down on noise violations, loitering, public drinking, and other infractions.
“These measures are intended to help ensure Ybor City remains a safe and thriving neighborhood no matter what time of day,” Henderson added.
According to the release, Henderson is also asking the interim president of Hillsborough County School, Van Ayres, to consider sending a message to parents of high school students to stress that the nightlife in Ybor isn't a place for teenagers.
On Tuesday, TPD announced an online portal that people can use to submit text, photos and videos related to the deadly shooting while they search for additional suspects.
