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Tampa police investigate shooting, hit-and-run crash

 
Published March 31, 2015

TAMPA — Police have arrested a man in connection with a hit-and-run crash early Tuesday that led to a shooting.

Keevon G. Smith, 21, was driving in the parking lot of the Broadmoor Apartments complex, 8700 50th Street N, at about 1:15 a.m. when he struck a blue Ford Fusion and fled, Tampa police said.

The owner of the Fusion, Tyrone Walker of West Palm Beach, got inside another vehicle and chased Smith, who was driving a Ford Explorer south on 50th Street N. Smith stopped the Explorer but then tried to run over Walker, 26, when he approached the SUV to collect the man's insurance information, police said.

At that point, Walker tried to dodge the SUV and at the same time shot Smith in the leg. He told police the shooting was "self-defense."

Police said Smith drove a couple of blocks and called for help. He was transported to a local hospital and then booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, police said.

Authorities were working with the State Attorney's Office on Tuesday to determine if Walker, the shooter, will face charges.

Walker's criminal history includes charges of loitering and carrying a concealed weapon. Smith was charged with burglary, grand theft, robbery and larceny in 2010.

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.