TAMPA, Fla. — The man suspected of shooting three people early Saturday morning in an Ybor City parking garage will remain behind bars until his trial.
The state attorney's office said 21-year-old Sunny Wallace was denied bond to "protect the community from the defendant’s dangerous behavior."
The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Saturday in the garage on East 5th Avenue.
One of the shooting victims told the state attorney's office that he was walking back to his car with his brother and his friend after a night out in Ybor City when he saw Wallace.
Wallace reportedly opened the passenger side door of a car he was in and asked what the men were doing. That's when Wallace shot at them, according to the state attorney's office.
Police said Wallace attempted to flee the scene but crashed into another car. He was located a short time later and placed under arrest.
Wallace, who detectives say appeared impaired, reportedly told police he shot the men in self-defense because they were "talking smack." The men said they didn't know Wallace and did not have any contact with him before the shooting.
One of the men is in a wheelchair while he recovers from his injuries.
“Three young lives could have been lost in this senseless act of gun violence. We are fortunate the victims are here to tell their stories, and we will help them on their road to recovery while seeking justice together. I appreciate the Tampa Police Officers whose swift action on the scene helped to quickly identify the shooter to take him into custody,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said.
Wallace is charged with attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, aggravated battery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer.
He is currently on probation out of Marion County for resisting a police officer and disorderly conduct.