TAMPA, Fla. — A 7-year-old boy is dead after being shot in the head during an argument involving jet skis Tuesday night, according to the Tampa Police Department.
The shooting occurred in the 8500 block of the Courtney Campbell Causeway around 8:30 p.m. near a picnic shelter east of the Causeway Boat Ramp during a massive Fourth of July celebration. Police said one group was upset because a second group was "recklessly" driving their jet skis too close to where kids were playing in the water.
Police said the argument escalated when people from each group started shooting at each other.
When the shooting started, police said the boy's grandfather tried to shield him and pulled him into a truck. While inside, a round went through the truck and hit the grandfather in the finger and then hit the boy.
Police believe it was the same round that hit grandfather and the boy.
The boy was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he later died. The grandfather was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"There is no reason, no excuse that an argument could leave to gunfire, much less an argument over jet skis," Deputy Chief of Investigations and Support Calvin Johnson said during a press conference Wednesday. "Now we got citizens, we got families, we got folks in our communities who have to deal with this tragic incident that occurred on the Fourth of July."
Police said there is very limited information on the suspect's description. According to a press release, the only information from witnesses is that it's believed to have been two groups of Hispanic males shooting at each other.
Johnson added that this is still an ongoing investigation.
Luis Gaspar and his wife, Anastasia, were celebrating the holiday on the north side of the causeway when the shooting happened.
Despite the surrounding fireworks, Luis said he heard the distinct sound of multiple gunshots, and he saw a crowd on the south side of the causeway quickly disperse after the shooting.
When he learned a child died as a result, he was nearly at a loss for words.
"Horrible, man," he said. "I won't lie. I'm about to cry right now. I feel bad. I feel really bad."
"As a mother of four kids myself, I can't imagine having to go through that. I feel really bad for that family," added Anastasia.
Anyone with information is asked to call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130, or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 800-873-TIPS (8477).
Watch the full press conference below.
