'Heat Is On' For Tampa Residents Carrying Illegal Firearms, Says Chief

TAMPA, FL — "The heat is on" for anyone in Tampa found carrying a gun illegally or committing a crime in Tampa, announced Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor.

Determined to get a handle on violent crimes in the city, particularly those involving gun violence, O'Connor announced her Safer Summer Initiative during a news conference last week in which she warned residents with outstanding warrants ranging from burglary to armed robbery that police are actively searching for them.

She said Tampa police recently completed a warrant roundup over a month's time that resulted in 69 arrests, many for violent crimes.

"This was only one step in our Safer Summer Initiative," said O'Connor. "It's time for action. Based on the tips and calls we get from residents, the diligent work of our officers and the feedback we have heard so far, everyone in this city is demonstrating that our combined actions make for a safer city."

O'Connor hosted the news conference attended by the family members of victims, school officials, community activists, elected leaders, federal and state law enforcement officials and faith-based leaders after two shootings occurred just two hours apart in Tampa on June 6, both in broad daylight.

"These were not random incidents," O'Connor said. "And I'm here to say today, this cannot continue. Our voices are joined today to amplify the message that it takes all of us to make this community safer.

The first shooting occurred as a result of an ongoing feud between a 21-year-old man and a 15-year-old teen that started a few weeks ago. The dispute escalated into a shooting in the parking lot of a gas station on East Columbus Drive and Republic de Cuba (14th Street) at 1:43 p.m. Both shooters were taken to the hospital, where the 21-year-old subsequently died.

Shortly after, at 3:30 p.m., police were called to investigate a shooting in the 4300 block of North 35th Street and East Chelsea Street. Tampa police arrived to find a man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

"We, as a community, have to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them to begin with," O'Connor said. "Since the beginning of this month alone, we have made six arrests in felony firearms cases."

She urged residents to turn in anyone they know who illegally possesses a firearm.

"We need your help to get that gun out of their hands before they can use it," she said. "Anyone illegally possessing a gun this summer in the city of Tampa will be arrested."

She said many of these guns are obtained by criminals due to the carelessness of gun owners. This year, there have been 78 guns stolen from unlocked vehicles.

"Every legal gun owner should secure their gun in a safe place," O'Connor said. "We don't want any more legally owned guns to end up in the hands of someone with criminal intent. No member of the police department wants to tell another family member that their loved one is no longer with us due to senseless gun violence."

O'Connor said state Rep. Diane Hart, D-Tampa, accompanied the chief to both shooting scenes June 6.

"My heart is pretty heavy this afternoon because I had to stand there and hear those families scream when they realized that their loved one had been murdered right at their own front door," Hart said.

She urged residents to tell someone when they're scanning social media and see someone posing with guns.

"Parents, shake down your children's rooms," Hart said. "I was born and raised in this community. And now it's my district to represent. We can't sit blindly by. We've got to take back our streets."

O'Connor commended the community for reporting suspicious activity at the Alamo Hotel on Nebraska Avenue. Their tips led to an investigation in which police recovered two guns last week and arrested six people on multiple drug charges, including armed trafficking.

To further promote community involvement in the effort to reduce gun violence on Tampa streets, O'Connor announced that she will host a Violent Crime Forum on Friday, June 17, at 6 p.m.

"We look at this opportunity as a community roll call, a larger version of the Front Porch Roll Call program we currently offer," O'Connor said.

The event will be held at North 15th Street and East 26th Avenue in East Tampa, an area that's been a hotspot for violent crime in recent months.

Communities that would like to host a roll call in their neighborhood should click here and select the Front Porch Roll Call option.

Tampa police officers will be available to talk about safety tips, current crime trends and recent incidents in the area, while building positive relationships with residents in the neighborhood.

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• Tampa Shooting Now A Homicide After 21-Year-Old Man Dies At Hospital