Tampa downtown bar shooting leaves 1 dead, 6 injured

TAMPA — Seven people were shot and one person was killed at a Tampa bar early Sunday after an argument broke out at closing time, according to Tampa Police.

Officers responded just before 3 a.m. to a report of shots fired near LIT Cigar & Martini Lounge, a downtown bar at 908 N Franklin St. They found one man dead outside the bar from an apparent gunshot wound.

Four men and two women were taken to nearby hospitals with gunshot injuries that were not life-threatening, police said in a news release.

They said a preliminary investigation suggests that two large parties inside the lounge had been arguing. “The parties were escorted outside, where the altercation escalated when at least one suspect went to a vehicle to retrieve a gun and fired multiple shots,” police said.

No arrests have been made yet.

“This is senseless violence. There’s no reason why anyone should lose their life over a fight at a bar,” Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor said in statement. “We are working diligently to follow up on leads and find those responsible.”

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.