Afternoon traffic on one of downtown Tampa’s busiest corridors turned into a crime scene Monday when a man in his mid-50s was shot near East Kennedy Boulevard and North Meridian Avenue and rushed to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
Officers quickly detained a suspect at the scene and recovered a firearm as evidence, according to 10 Tampa Bay. Tampa police said the man taken into custody is also in his 50s. The victim was found at the intersection and transported to a local hospital, and investigators said there were no other suspects and that all parties involved were accounted for.
As detectives worked the scene, westbound lanes on Kennedy were diverted and drivers were urged to find another way around the bottleneck, a frustrating reminder that even a routine commute can get upended in seconds.
Police later told 10 Tampa Bay that the shooting “was not a random act of violence” and appears to be tied to an incident between the two men that happened on Friday. Detectives collected the weapon and said the investigation remains active as they work their leads.
Kennedy corridor has seen other violent episodes
The stretch of East Kennedy near the courthouse is no stranger to high-profile trouble. In October, a driver opened fire after crashing into multiple vehicles along the same corridor, a case that sparked fresh debate over safety and enforcement on the busy east-west artery, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Investigation ongoing
Tampa police are asking anyone who saw Monday’s shooting or has information about what led up to it to contact detectives as the probe continues. Authorities said they plan to release more details as investigators develop additional leads.
