A 16-year-old girl was injured in an early morning shooting on New Year's Day in Tampa, sparking an investigation by local police. According to WFLA, the incident occurred just after 1 a.m. near North Tampa Street and East Cass Street, where Tampa police were on patrol as part of their New Year’s Eve Operation when they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the leg.
While the injured girl's injuries are reported as non-life-threatening, this event signifies a troubling start to the new year, being the third shooting within a short four-hour span in the city. In a confrontation between what appears to be groups of juveniles, the teenager was caught in the crossfire and subsequently hospitalized. As the investigation unfolds, WTSP reports, that the authorities are currently piecing together the events that led to the shooting.
Officials are firm in their belief that this incident was separate from an another shooting earlier the same night that resulted in a security guard being wounded at Curtis Hixon Park. As the community grapples with these violent events, law enforcement officers are seeking aid from the public. "Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 813-231-6130 or send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477," as per WFLA.
The Tampa Police Department is calling on anyone who might have video footage or insights that could aid in the investigation to come forward. According to a statement obtained by FOX 13 News, "Investigators also say that this incident does not appear to be related to a previous shooting earlier in the evening." With the New Year marred by violence, the department is committed to the comprehensive investigation and security of its residents.
