Tampa Police arrested 31-year-old Joel Moreno Cobo yesterday, November 20, in connection with the fatal shooting of Dedrick Sykes that took place on November 14, according to Tampa officials. Charged with second-degree murder, Moreno Cobo was taken into custody at his home at 7:10 pm, and he was transported to Orient Road Jail shortly thereafter.
The incident, which claimed the life of 41-year-old Sykes, occurred in the early evening hours when officers responded to a shooting at the intersection of E. 5th Ave and N. 22nd St.; they discovered two vehicles, a black BMW sedan and a red Jeep Grand Cherokee, with Sykes lying wounded on the ground between them, "Justice is rooted in evidence, and that has guided our entire investigation," said Chief Lee Bercaw per the City of Tampa, who confirmed that a gun was found in a holster on Moreno Cobo's waistband the individual remained on the scene, and was cooperative with the investigation, even agreeing to an interview with investigators after claiming self-defense.
According to witness accounts, a dispute ensued after Moreno Cobo, unable to proceed due to a woman's SUV blocking his path at a stop sign, flashed his lights to urge the vehicle to move; as the SUV moved forward, Sykes, in his Jeep, followed and also turned westbound onto E. 5th Ave leading to a brief verbal altercation between Moreno Cobo and Sykes—Sykes' Jeep came to an abrupt stop, he then exited his vehicle, and gunfire was heard moments later.
Detectives thoroughly collected evidence and witness testimonies, revealing that Sykes, who was unarmed, did not threaten nor imply he was armed during the confrontation, "This arrest is the direct result of patience and precision, ensuring that we could bring a suspect into custody, and provide fact-based answers to a grieving family as they navigate this difficult time," Chief Bercaw emphasized on the City of Tampa.
