Nearly four years after a Halloween party in Thonotosassa ended with a 15-year-old girl shot to death, Hillsborough County investigators say they still need the public's help. Laci Gilileo, a sophomore at Bloomingdale High School, was fatally wounded after an argument broke out at the gathering, and no arrest has been announced in the case.
Deputies responded around 2:15 a.m. to reports of gunfire near a house in the 9000 block of Harney Road in Thonotosassa, according to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay. Investigators have said an argument broke out during the party before someone opened fire, per the same account. WFLA reported that Gilileo was shot on Oct. 30, 2022.
Found Wounded at a Nearby Gas Station
Gilileo was not found at the Harney Road property itself. The organization notes she turned up shortly after at the 301 Petrol Mart, located at 11511 U.S. 301. Deputies had been notified shortly after the gunfire reports. First responders took her to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
A second person was also shot that night, though accounts differ on who that victim was. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay describes him as an adult male who sustained gunshot wounds, while wtsp.com has reported that deputies found a male teen who had been shot. Neither account has been reconciled publicly, and the discrepancy underscores how much about that night remains murky even now.
Witnesses Still Not Coming Forward
What investigators have been consistent about is the silence surrounding the case. WFLA reported that detectives believe numerous people who attended the party have not come forward to be interviewed, and tampabay.com later reported the same concern, noting investigators believed many attendees still had not spoken with law enforcement. Tampabay.com also reported that detectives were still seeking tips from the public in the weeks after the shooting.
As first reported by the Tampa Free Press, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister acknowledged that Gilileo's family continued to grieve their daughter's loss as the fourth anniversary approached. He urged anyone with information to call detectives, according to the outlet's reporting.
A Reward Still on the Table
The financial incentive to talk has not gone away. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay has continued to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspect or suspects involved. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with details about the shooting, or about who may be responsible, to call deputies at 813-247-8200.
As the fourth anniversary approached, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the case remained open. For Gilileo's family, and for investigators who say key witnesses are still staying quiet, the hope for answers rests on someone finally picking up the phone.
