Police: Tattoo shop robbery was gang-related

TAMPA — Police say the armed robbery of a W Columbus tattoo shop on Wednesday afternoon was gang-related.

Eight young men were arrested following a heated argument between two gangs over a girl, said Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. Four of the men were listed as known gang members in a police database, and four others were considered gang associates.

Police responded to Forever Ink at 3115 W Columbus Drive at almost 2 p.m. after hearing that a group of armed men came in, argued with people in the shop and left. During the argument, employees and patrons in the shop not involved in the fight ran to the rear of the store for safety, according to an arrest affidavit.

McElroy said people in the shop reported hearing shots fired after the armed men left, but police did not find any shell casings.

No one was injured.

The men took several items from the store, the affidavit states.

Arrested were Dillon Trujillo, 18, Pablo Serrano, 18, Corado Diaz Jr., 18, Jorge Colon, 19, Rafael A. Martin, 19 and Richard Barreiro, 20, Eric Anthony Rivera, 18 and Pablo Serrano, 18.

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