Tampa Republic

Tampa Police Chief Bercaw expressed his pride in the police force's work, stating, “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and efficiency demonstrated by our detectives and officers throughout this investigation. Their tireless work, combined with the tips and assistance provided by the community, allowed us to quickly remove a dangerous felon from the streets and bring a sense of closure to the families of the victims.”

The incident took place on May 3, 2024, at around 10:30 am on E. 26th Ave in Tampa, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The victims were identified as an adult white female in her mid-20s and an adult black male in his early 40s. A third victim, a black female in her early 40s, was also involved but not injured by the gunfire.

According to investigators, the suspect, 37-year-old Whitney Newsome, got into an argument with the white female victim before shooting her. The male victim intervened, leading to a further escalation of the situation. Newsome then shot at both the male and female victims, resulting in the male victim being struck by a bullet.

Newsome was swiftly apprehended by Tampa Police Officers in the area of E. 25th Ave and N. 33rd St. He has been charged with two counts of Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and has been transported to Orient Road Jail for further processing.