HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Tampa Police arrest 37-year-old Whitney Newsome in relation to a shooting on Friday that left two dead.
Tampa Police said on May 3rd, 2024 at around 10:30 AM, they responded to a ShotSpotter notification and a report of a shooting along East 26th Ave. Officers Arrived to find two people shot -- a woman in her mid-20's and a man in his early 40's. Both of them died.
A third person, a women in her early 40's, was shot at but not hit and was located and interviewed. Detectives began speaking to witnesses and gathering evidence.
Investigators determined Newsome was in an argument with the female before the shooting. The male victim attempted to intervene and an argument between the two men escalated and moved down 26th Avenue.
All of the people involved knew each other. Newsome pulled out a gun and shot the woman who attempted to run before falling to the ground in front of the Stop & Shop' in the 8200 block of N. Nebraska Ave.
The other people at the scene also ran for safety but Newsome shot at both of them as well. The man was hit and the other woman was not. Newsome then ran from the scene. Officers quickly located a handgun along the route Newsome used.
Detectives followed evidence and developed leads based on witness statements that led to Newsome being identified as the shooter. Officers worked throughout the night and were able to locate Newsome in the area of E. 25th Ave and N. 33rd St., where Tampa Police Officers took him into custody early Saturday morning.
He was charged with two counts of Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was transported to Orient Road Jail.
Florida unlicensed contractor faces a bond normally reserved for murderers and violent criminals.
