A 16-year-old was arrested for shooting another teen in Central Florida.
Tampa Police arrested 16-year-old Andre Zakanya James in connection with the shooting of another teen that occurred on November 26th.
At around 1:00pm, Tampa Police responded to the 2100 block of W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd following a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located a Black male in his mid-teens with a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a local hospital where he was being treated.
Surveillance video revealed Zakanya waiting in the alley of a nearby business. As the victim walked southbound on N Albany Ave, Zakanya walked towards the street, pointed a firearm toward the victim, and fired one round.
He attempted to continue to shoot at the victim, but the firearm jammed and Zakanya immediately fled the scene on foot, according to local law enforcement.
Zakanya was positively identified by another officer who frequently conducts curfew checks and was taken into custody at his residence.
The Central Florida teenager was charged with one felony count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree Premeditated Firearm and one felony count of Aggravated Battery Greater Bodily Harm or Deadly Weapon Firearm.
Detectives are still investigating what led to the incident and how both parties are known to each other.
“There’s nothing more alarming than a blatant disregard for another person’s life,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “Violence in our community and amongst juveniles will not be tolerated. I’m appreciative of all the hard work our detectives and officers did in less than 24 hours that led to this quick arrest. It is also due in part to the everyday efforts of officers assigned to juvenile checks that work to keep those with extensive criminal histories accountable.”
As a reminder, the Tampa Police Department offers free gunlocks as part of the program, Project Locked and Unlocked. Gunlocks are available at all Tampa Police locations, as well as select Hillsborough County Public Library locations.
