Carrollwood Man Charged In Dec. 29 Shooting Death

CARROLLWOOD, FL – Following an investigation that spanned more than three months, a 22-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the Dec. 28 shooting death of Carrollwood resident Brian Vessel.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Tyler Bardin, 22, Thursday, April 12, at the Carrollwood Village Fairway Townhouses, 4226 Fairway Circle, Tampa.

According to the sheriff’s office, on Dec. 28 around 1:43 a.m., Bardin and Vessel, 46, got into a physical altercation at Vessel’s apartment at 3811 Cortez Circle off Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood. Vessel called 911 a minute later. In the recording of the 911 call, Vessel and Bardin can be heard arguing, both accusing each other of delivering punches to the face.

The fight involved Vessel’s relationship with Bardin’s mother, Tish Bardin.

Tish Bardin said she left the apartment after Vessel punched her and sat in her car in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

Vessel reportedly followed her to the parking lot with Tyler Bardin close behind. The fight continued outside.

A witness heard gunshots followed by someone saying, “You shot me.” That was followed by the sound of someone running up the stairs of the apartment complex and the sound of more gunshots.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found Vessel dead just outside his apartment door and were told Bardin was hiding in his own apartment at 4018 Cortez Drive, Apartment B, Tampa.

Because he was believed to be armed, the sheriff’s SWAT Team and crisis negotiators responded but Bardin refused to leave the apartment.

Finally, at 11:45 a.m., he tried to leave his apartment complex from a rear exit and was apprehended.

When detectives questioned Bardin, he said he threw the gun in a small pond next to the apartment complex. However, the sheriff’s dive team could not find the gun.

Bardin’s attorney, Ty Trayner, then told detectives that Bardin had the gun in his apartment.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the apartment but could not find a gun.

On Dec. 29, a warrant was issued for Bardin's arrest for intentionally discarding evidence in a homicide investigation including a firearm, shell casings and the clothes he wore that night.

The sheriff’s office didn’t elaborate on the circumstances that led to Bardin’s arrest for second-degree murder with a firearm Thursday, April 12.

Image via Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office