Two men have been arrested after a shooting at a Central Florida nightclub, with the Sheriff saying they “will be held accountable for their reckless and violent actions.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 39-year-old Jafet Rodriguez and 34-year-old Kenneth Jackson after a shooting in Tampa.
On March 18th at 1:53am, while on patrol, several HCSO deputies heard multiple gunshots coming from the Secrets Gentlemen’s Club, located at 8829 West Hillsborough Ave.
Within moments, deputies arrived when they observed a white SUV fleeing from the scene.
Detectives began investigating and located 39-year-old Joar Michel with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
Patrol deputies initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle that was observed fleeing from the scene shortly after that.
Despite the deputy’s attempts to pull over the SUV, the driver did not comply. HCSO’s Aviation Unit was dispatched to provide surveillance, guiding deputies to the suspect’s vehicle. Additionally, the Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol began assisting in coordinating efforts to stop the car.
After several minutes of following the vehicle, the driver approached a stop sign where local deputies could box the SUV to prevent it from fleeing again.
Jackson, the driver, fled on foot until the Tampa Police Department arrested him.
Rodriguez, the passenger and shooter, was arrested without incident.
“The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will not stand for any form of violence in our community. These two individuals will be held accountable for their reckless and violent actions,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our deputies and law enforcement partners showcased remarkable skill and teamwork in arresting these perpetrators. Let the message be clear: anyone who believes they can bring violence into our community will meet the full force of the law.”
This investigation is ongoing, according to local law enforcement.
