TAMPA, FL — Right now, a 15-year-old Tampa teen is being held at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center. However, he could be moved to the Hillsborough County Jail to face charges as an adult after being accused of shooting at two Tampa police officers Sunday.
Fed up with what she calls a “startling rise in teen gun violence in the Tampa Bay area,” Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said she’s now routinely charging prolific teen offenders as adults for serious gun violations.
Since taking office in August, Lopez said, on average, the percent of gun-related juvenile cases prosecuted as adults has increased by more than 20 percent on her watch.
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Lopez, a former county judge, was appointed Hillsborough County State Attorney by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 8 after DeSantis ousted twice-elected Hillsborough County Attorney Andrew Warren from the office under an executive order of suspension “due to neglect of duty, incompetence and willful defiance of his duties.”
“While it would be our preference that there be no children handling guns in our community, anyone who uses a gun to commit an act of violence must face consequences to keep our community safe,” Lopez said. “These are hard decisions that we are willing to make.”
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Interim Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said the outcome of Sunday’s shootings could have been much more tragic.
“These officers were protecting a community and came under fire. This could have resulted in a very different and tragic outcome,” said Bercaw.
The two officers were on patrol in the 300 block of Gould Court at 5:16 p.m. Sunday when they heard gunshots near the Robles Park Apartments. The officers were approaching a group of people outside the apartments when a man, later identified as 20-year-old Jabari Murphy, aimed a gun at the officers and then fled on foot, according to the police report.
The 15-year-old boy then pulled out his gun, took aim at the officers and fired before fleeing on foot.
The officers, who were not injured and did not return fire, chased the Murphy and the teen, and quickly apprehended both. They recovered a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun.
Murphy was charged with aggravated assault, being armed in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon. He was taken to the Orient Road Jail.
The teen was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, armed in the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed weapon and minor in possession of a weapon.
“I am extremely thankful that our officers were not injured. I have already spoken with our state attorney, Suzy Lopez, who has assured me her office will see these suspects prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Lopez said she’s changed the evaluation process at the state attorney’s office for the most serious juvenile gun violence cases by “ensuring the punishment fits the crime.”
Prolific teen offenders are facing more serious consequences compared to the years prior. While she said she doesn’t like to send a teenager to adult court, Lopez said she believes brazen and violent gun violence “must be addressed swiftly, no matter the age.”
“I have consoled too many families who have been victims of this senseless violence. I am dedicated to ensuring we hold criminals accountable for these heinous acts. The tool I have to fight teen gun violence is prosecution, and the state attorney’s office will use that tool when juveniles decide to make adult decisions that continually endanger our community,” she said.
She said her office will work with all law enforcement agencies in the county to identify prolific teen offenders and “share intelligence information to combat this behavior.”
She said she’s also re-evaluating her office’s existing gun violence unit to strengthen it by using more relevant criteria to review cases that put the community in danger.
Bercaw said his department has made it a priority to arrest teens who casually carry around guns tucked in the waistbands of their pants.
“I, once again, appeal to every member of our community to help us keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them, especially juveniles.”
To assist residents with keeping guns out of the hands of teens and young children, the Tampa Police Department’s “Locked and Unloaded”program provides free gun locks to residents at every district office and police headquarters in downtown Tampa.
In January, United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District Court of Florida in Tampa commended the Tampa Police Department for its ongoing efforts to fight violent crime.
During 2022, federal prosecutors and the Tampa police made arrests that removed 74 firearms from the streets.
“In 2022, the Tampa Police Department played a critical role in investigating and prosecuting violent crimes,” Handberg said. “We look forward to continuing to work with TPD and our other local and federal law enforcement partners to further our goal of making the Tampa Bay area a safer place for its citizens.”
“Violent crime, in any form, negatively affects the quality of life of every person impacted, whether directly or indirectly,” said Bercaw. “Every community member has the absolute right to feel safe in their homes and in their neighborhoods. The Tampa Police Department will continue to work alongside our federal, state and local partners in our tireless efforts to hold those who would harm or threaten the public accountable, prosecute them to the full extent of the law, and make every community member feel safe in our city.”
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