Latin Kings Members Arrested In Shooting Near Tampa Nightclub: Police

TAMPA, FL — Following an extensive search and investigation, the Tampa Police Department has arrested two members of the Latin Kings gang linked to a deadly shooting outside a Tampa nightclub, police said.

With the help of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, Josue Clavel, 22, and Damaso Bravo, 32, of Wimauma, were apprehended on Monday hiding at a hotel in Brownsville, Texas, along with their girlfriends. Police said the group had $20,000 in cash on them.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 9, Clavel and Bravo were involved in a fight with a group of people inside the LIT Cigar and Martini Lounge at 908 N. Franklin St., Tampa, according to police.

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Once outside the nightclub, police said one of the men retrieved a gun from a nearby vehicle, and Clavel and Bravo fired multiple shots, striking seven people and killing one, a 30-year-old man visiting the area from California for a wedding.

"I cannot stress enough how members of the Tampa Police Department have worked tirelessly around the clock to find those responsible and bring justice to these victims," said Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor.

Detectives are working with authorities in Brownsville to have the two men extradited back to Tampa, she said.

"As our downtown changes and evolves, we want the public to know that the safety and security of our visitors, residents and businesses remains a top priority, and our efforts and resources poured into this case are an example of that," said O'Connor. "We're continuing to collaborate with our city partners, from code enforcement to the Downtown Tampa Partnership, to identify issues or trends facing each area of the city, and through these extra eyes on the streets, we're able to identify problems faster and make potentially life-saving changes."

The State Attorney's Office 13th Judicial Circuit has upgraded the charges against Bravo from three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to one count of pre-meditated first-degree murder and two counts of principal to attempted first-degree murder. Bravo is also facing a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.

The charge against Clavel remains as first-degree murder.

Both men are being held without bond and will be extradited from Brownsville, Texas, to Tampa.