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Arrest made after 2 teens shot in east Tampa

 
Published April 2, 2015

TAMPA — A week after Tampa's police chief asked the community to help curb a surge in gun violence among young people, a teenager was arrested and charged with shooting two teens in east Tampa.

Wilbur Simpson, 16, of Tampa, was arrested early Wednesday and charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, being a minor in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence, according to police reports. Investigators recovered the gun police say was used in the shooting.

At a news conference last week, Chief Jane Castor said that in the first three months of 2015, incidents classified as aggravated batteries with a gun have more than doubled compared to last year. Homicides have doubled as well, she said, and gun crime rates have jumped.

The teens injured in Tuesday night's shooting, Demarcus Terrel Veal, 16, and Joshua Aaron Ricks, 19, were walking along the 3100 block of 25th Avenue, authorities said. Each was wounded in the abdomen and transported to Tampa General Hospital. Police reports described them as stable.

All three of the teens have criminal records.

Simpson was charged in 2014 with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm on school property.

Veal was charged in February with larceny. Ricks has a record dating back to 2011 including charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering with a witness, marijuana possession, larceny and burglary, according to state records.