A morning shooting turned a Plant City interstate ramp into a crime scene, leaving one man dead and closing the westbound I-4 entrance at Branch Forbes Road while deputies worked the area. Hillsborough County deputies were called to the scene at about 4 a.m., and first responders pronounced an adult male dead at the scene. Crime scene technicians spent the morning combing the area as a heavy law enforcement presence kept the ramp blocked and tied up early traffic for drivers heading toward Tampa.
According to Tampa Free Press, deputies found the victim with trauma to his upper body at the intersection of Branch Forbes Road and the westbound I-4 entrance ramp. Investigators have not released the victim's identity, and officials have given no details about a suspect or possible motive while detectives continue canvassing the area.
“Our detectives are working diligently to determine exactly what led to this shooting,” Sheriff Chad Chronister told the Tampa Free Press. He urged anyone who may have seen or heard anything nearby to come forward, saying even seemingly minor observations could prove critical for the investigation.
Investigation and public appeal
Detectives processed the ramp and nearby shoulder for evidence before reopening the lanes, and the investigation remains active. Officials are asking residents and motorists who were in the area around 4 a.m. to review dashcam or surveillance footage and report anything unusual that might help detectives piece together what happened.
Traffic impact near Branch Forbes Road
The temporary closure of the westbound I-4 entrance ramp squeezed the morning commute and brought additional emergency vehicles to the scene. The Branch Forbes Road and I-4 interchange is a busy connector for Plant City commuters, and FDOT Tampa Bay documents show periodic work and detours at that interchange as agencies try to manage traffic flow.
Context: I-4 shootings and safety concerns
Shootings and other violent incidents on stretches of I-4 near Plant City have occurred before, including a high-profile road-rage fatality reported in 2023. As the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has investigated previous homicides in the Branch Forbes Road corridor, detectives say they will pursue all leads to identify suspects and motives. For background, see a 2023 HCSO press release on a Branch Forbes homicide.
The investigation into Sunday's shooting remains active, and deputies say they are following all leads. Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477; tips can also be submitted online through the sheriff's office public affairs channels.
