Man Charged With Manslaughter Following Fight At Bowling Alley

BRANDON, FL — A fight outside a Brandon bowling alley has led to felony manslaughter charges against a 22-year-old man.

On Nov. 10 around 1 a.m., Jose Vasquez Jr., 22, got into a physical fight with another man in the parking lot of Brandon Crossroads Bowl, 609 Crater Lane, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Witnesses told deputies that, during the fight, the victim hit his head on the pavement at least twice. When onlookers attempted to help the victim, describing him as being “out of it,” they said Vasquez struck the victim in the face with his fist again, causing the victim to fall to the pavement and strike his head again.

When deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrived, Vasquez provided them with a false name and fled the scene. The victim was transported to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition and died Saturday.

An autopsy completed by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday, Nov. 18, found the manner of death was homicide due to blunt impact to the head.

Vasquez was already in jail on charges of felony battery, providing a false name to law enforcement and arrest on a felony warrant (felon in possession of a firearm). On Monday, Vasquez’s charges were upgraded to felony manslaughter.

He is currently being held at Falkenburg Road Jail without bond.