Tampa Rally Turns Violent, Gas Station Torched, Stores Looted

TAMPA, FL — Despite organizers' vows to keep the protest peaceful, tensions mounted during a rally Saturday night over the death at George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis Police officer, with agitators turning to violence, torching a gas station and looting a number of stores in north Tampa.

At 8:38 p.m., Tampa Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Mobil gas station at 3003 E. Busch Blvd. and found the interior of the convenience store ablaze and flames shooting through the roof.

Tampa Police had to clear protesters out of the way so fire crews could make their way to the gas station and douse the fire before the flames spread to the gas pumps.

Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Penny said crews were able to get the fire under control in about a half an hour.

"Crews were able to prevent the extension of the fire to the gas pumps that were located in extremely close proximity to the fire, certainly preventing an even more gravely dangerous situation that put firefighters and members of the public at extreme risk," Penny said.

Afterward, he said fire crews quickly cleared the scene, removing themselves from the escalating violence taking place along Busch Boulevard and in front of the University Square Mall on Fowler Avenue.

Members of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society organized the 2 p.m. Justice for George Floyd Protest in front of Boston Market on the corner of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue near the University of South Florida as part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression's national call for action.

The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression called for groups throughout the country to take to the streets after a cellphone video was released Monday showing 46-year-old George Floyd on the ground while a Minneapolis Police officer placed his knee on Floyd's neck. The former high school football star can be heard on the video pleading for help, telling officers he couldn't breathe. Floyd was later pronounced dead.

For several hours, a large crowd of demonstrators carrying signs peacefully walked down 56th Street to Busch Boulevard, led by Temple Terrace Police officers on foot and in cruisers who cleared the roads to make way for the marchers.

However, as the evening wore on and the protest moved about four miles down Busch Boulevard to 30th Street, tensions escalated.

"Tampa Police officers were monitoring protesters as they made their way westbound along Busch Boulevard from North 56th Street this afternoon," Tampa Police public information officer Eddie Durkin. "At 6:45 p.m., the crowd converged on Busch Boulevard at North 30th Street where they began looting the Mobil station, setting off fireworks, throwing rocks and bottles, and surrounding bicycle officers who had originally been tasked with ensuring their safety and right to protest."

He said a group of agitators in the crowd of about 300 people began throwing rocks at a vacant Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office cruiser, breaking the windows. Before long, looters broke into a Gold & Diamond Source and other stores in the University Square Mall area.

"A group within the protest began launching Roman candle-type fireworks at Tampa Police officers, striking one officer who, thankfully, was not injured," Durkin said.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan attempted to ease tensions by hosting a live forum Saturday with WWE wrestlers Titus O'Neil and Dave Bautista and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in which they discussed the events in Minneapolis and ways to build a better relationship between police and the black community,

However, as the forum was being aired, the violence continued.

Durkin said the police department brought in an armored riot vehicle and activated its Crowd Management Group with police officers donning riot helmets and shields. At one point, officers dispersed tear gas.

The sheriff's office arrested at least three people for looting and a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy was taken to the hospital after being struck in the back of the head with an object.

Tampa Police said a number of people who used the protest as an opportunity to loot the CVS, AT&T and Cricket stores were arrested as well.

No Tampa Police were injured and Durkin said he's received no reports of protesters being injured.

"Violence, looting and vandalism will not be tolerated, and we will make arrests," said Chronister. "This small group of individuals isn't protesting peacefully like people did earlier. Now law enforcement officers have to put themselves in harm's way to keep people safe. As disgusted as I am that this has occurred, we're prepared to protect our city."

After declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, Tampa Police asked protesters to leave the area. However, many protesters vowed to demonstrate through the night. Just after 1 a.m., protesters set a Champs sporting goods store on fire.

"I'm disappointed that a small population of agitators turned violent and took advantage of the situation to steal from businesses who are just holding on after going through COVID-19," said Chronister. "The police are doing everything possible to make sure that no one is harmed and bring this to a peaceful resolution."