TAMPA, Fla. — A 16-year-old boy was shot to death Tuesday night and left in the parking lot of a Tampa McDonald's, Police Chief Mary O'Connor said in an update.
The teen was said to be with a group of friends just after 8 p.m. at the fast food restaurant near West Tampa Bay Boulevard and North Armenia Avenue when the shooting happened.
The body of the 16-year-old was reportedly found in the parking lot by officers with a gun next to him, O'Connor said during a news conference Wednesday morning. He was shot once, she added.
According to witnesses, O'Connor said the teen was with three other juveniles when a car with other people pulled up; the two groups started to shoot at each other. During the shootout, the 16-year-old fell to the ground after being hit, and his three friends ran away from the scene, the police chief explained.
At this time, aren't yet sure of the argument between the two groups.
While investigating, O'Connor says detectives were able to connect the 16-year-old to an ongoing armed robbery investigation that happened about a week ago.
No arrests have been made in the McDonald's shooting.
"Tampa PD has zero tolerance for gun violence in this city," O'Connor said. "And if you commit a crime with a gun in the city of Tampa, we are going to find you and we're going to arrest you."
Anyone with more information on the shooting is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-276-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.