TAMPA, Fla. – Seven-year-old Yitzian Torres was with his grandfather hiding in a truck during a shooting on Tuesday in Tampa. A bullet shot his grandfather in the hand and Yitzian in the head.
Calvin Johnson, the deputy chief of the Tampa Police Department, said there was a conflict about jet ski riders near a boat ramp at Courtney Campbell Causeway.
“That confrontation led to gunfire. Senseless gunfire,” Johnson said.
Yitzian died at St. Joseph’s Hospital. A member of his mother’s family set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover the unexpected cost of the boy’s funeral.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Johnson had a message for the shooter: “Turn yourself in! Your actions and your anger led to a 7-year-old just starting his life getting killed because you were angry over a Jet Ski.”
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw released a statement saying his thoughts were with Yitzian’s family.
“Our detectives will work tirelessly until all those involved are identified and arrested,” Bercaw said.