University Of Tampa Student Fatally Shot Saturday Morning Identified

TAMPA, FL — The University of Tampa student who was shot and killed early Saturday has been identified.

Carson Senfield had been celebrating his 19th birthday with friends on South Howard Avenue when he took an Uber to return to his home near the 1000 block of West Arch Street, according to Tampa police.

After being dropped off, police said he tried to get into a parked car, possibly mistaking it for his own. The driver seated inside the car told police he thought Senfield was attempting to break in, possibly intending to harm him, and shot Senfield in the upper body in "fear of his life." Senfield died at the scene at around 1:20 a.m.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with detectives, said Tampa police.

Senfield came to the University of Tm from Orchard Park, New York, to major in finance.

In a letter notifying school families in the small town of Orchard Park, near Buffalo, Orchard Park Central School District Superintendent David Lilleck said Senfield graduated from Orchard Park High School in 2021.

“Carson was a light in this world and will forever be a Quaker,” Lilleck said in the letter, referring to the school’s mascot.

At UT, Senfield was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity.

He leaves behind his parents and two siblings who still attend Orchard Park High School.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by to raise funds to fly the Senfield family to Tampa and then accompany his body home to New York. The fund has raised $104,445 as of Tuesday morning.

Whatever isn't used for the flight will toward a scholarships fund, Senfield's parents, Daren and Bridget Senfield, said.

"The world lost a truly remarkable young man with the tragic and heartbreaking passing of Carson Senfield on Saturday in Tampa, Florida, where he was beginning his Sophomore year at the University of Tampa," said family friend Lillian Lechner said. "Carson was the kind of person that we want our kids to emulate ... always respectful, selfless and dedicated to helping others, especially young athletes who looked up to him as a leader on the baseball diamond and hockey rink. Please keep his extended family in your prayers and, if you’re able, consider assisting with the expenses associated with bringing Carson back home to Western, New York.

Many of those donating are the parents of university students who say they can't imagine the heartbreak of hearing the news that their college student won't be coming home.

"I’m just a mom in Tampa who has two kids away at college," Dawn Arnold said. "There is no making sense of what happened to Carson. My heart is broken for everyone who knew and loved him."

"Please know your family is in our thoughts and prayers in the days that lie ahead," wrote the Cusick family. "Our daughter is a sophomore at UT and was friends with Carson. She talked about him throughout her freshman Year and was so happy to see him just last week when he reached out to her and her friends to meet and catch up. We are deeply sorry for your family's devastating loss."

Others commenting were friends from the hometown where Senfield grew up, including the Orchard Park Little League where he played ball and later umpired games.

"OPLL is heartbroken to learn of the passing of our alumnus, umpire and friend, Carson Senfield," said the Little League. "We are sending love and strength to his family and we promise he will always be with us."

Daren and Bridget Senfield wrote a note on the GoFundMe page expressing their gratitude for the expressions of sympathy and donations.

"The response and outpouring of love and support is absolutely overwhelming," they wrote. "The Senfield family is truly blessed for our time on Earth with our beloved son Carson. He was an incredible young man with a passion for his friends and his family. We are forever grateful for each and every one of you in our lives. Please know that your generosity will go to providing opportunities for young men and women to have the passion and success in college that Carson was experiencing."

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