TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa city leaders are moving forward with a possible citywide juvenile curfew on Thursday following a Halloween weekend shooting in Ybor City that killed two people and injured 16 others.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw presented an update on the shooting to Tampa City Council members.
"This investigation is not over. It's still ongoing," Bercaw said. "And we do believe there are other shooters out there."
Since the shooting, an FBI tip portal was launched, creating an easier platform for information to be submitted. Bercaw's presentation included an update on the shooting investigation, as well as key takeaways.
Concerns surrounding parking lot "parties," closure of 7th Avenue, increased community-based activities/involvement with teens, as well as a juvenile curfew, were all mentioned.
"We know we have pockets of areas of the city, across the city, where we have juveniles out at night, at every corner of our town that probably shouldn't be out. There's no reason they should be out and about," Councilor Alan Clendenin said.
The proposed juvenile curfew for people 16 and under would go into effect at 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday. On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, the curfew would be in effect at midnight.
It would not impose criminal penalties. Council moved the draft proposal forward in a 5-2 vote. The first reading is scheduled for Dec. 21.
"We just need safe places for kids to go," Councilor Gwendolyn Henderson said.
Police say parking lot parties were a concern, where people under 21 loiter, illegally consuming alcohol.
"Because it's very clear, that's where people are hanging out, getting drinks illegally and coming up to 7th Avenue, so I think that's kind of the ground we need to start," Councilor Lynn Hurtak said.
Hurtak raised concerns about how these safety changes would be applied and if minorities would be targeted.
"Right now, I know there are minority communities who are fearful, and they're concerned about being approached," Hurtak said.
There is an existing ordinance that requires parking lots to have attendants. The council is looking into how to better enforce that existing policy.
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.