Man arrested on murder charge in Tampa apartment complex shooting

TAMPA — Deputies have arrested a man who they say fatally shot another man during an argument at a north Tampa apartment complex earlier this month.

Carlos Sharif Knight, 30, faces a second degree murder charge in the Oct. 2 shooting at the Bella Mar Apartments, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Deputies responding to a shooting call at the complex at 12418 N 15th St. shortly before 10 p.m. found Adam Riley, 34, lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the head, according to an arrest report. He died at the scene.

Witnesses told investigators that a fight broke out in the parking lot just before the shooting, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The two fighting parties briefly separated, then started fighting again. The shooting victim wasn’t there during the first fight but arrived during the second fight and was shot, deputies said.

Detectives identified Knight as the suspect and arrested him Thursday in the Temple Terrace area. In addition to the murder charge, Knight faces charges of shooting at or within a vehicle, illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possession of marijuana. He was being held without bail Friday in the Hillsborough County jail.

Records show Knight served two stints in prison between 2010 and 2015 for robbery with a deadly weapon, dealing in stolen property and giving false information to a pawn broker.