TAMPA, FL – Tampa Police and US Marshals have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy that occurred Tuesday evening.
The victim, Armando Gilbert, was riding his bicycle with another juvenile on N. Hillsborough Lane near E. Juneau Street when he was approached by the suspect, 15-year-old Marquis Lee, who was also on a bicycle. Lee allegedly rode towards Gilbert, shot him multiple times, and fled the scene.
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Officers responded to the scene shortly after 6:00 p.m. and found Gilbert with upper body trauma. He was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead.
Detectives determined that Lee and Gilbert had previous disputes. Lee was arrested on Wednesday around 6:10 p.m.
“No parent should ever experience the heartbreaking loss of a child, especially in such a senseless and unjust way,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “As we grieve alongside Armando’s family and offer them support during this unimaginable time, we remain committed to holding juveniles accountable when they decide to take someone else’s life. Armando’s family deserves nothing less than justice, and I’m deeply proud of the swift efforts of the men and women who worked tirelessly to make an arrest within 24 hours of this tragedy.”
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Lee is charged with one felony count of Murder in the First Degree, one felony count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and one misdemeanor count of Minor in Possession of a Firearm.
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