Man shot dead in West Tampa had argued earlier while walking, neighbors say

TAMPA — A 28-year-old man shot and killed outside a home in West Tampa had argued earlier with someone who lived at the home, neighbors said.

Police found the man inside in his vehicle in the 2900 block of W Abdella Street with apparent gunshot wounds at about 9:30 p.m. Monday. He was transported to a hospital and later died from his injuries.

Police said they initially responded to the scene for a disturbance.

“The shooter remained at the scene and is cooperating with detectives,” police said in a news release.

No information about a motive or the individuals involved was immediately released.

Yolaiki Gonzalez, 41, lives across the street from the shooting scene and said that when her neighbors described the victim, she instantly knew who he was: A man often seen walking the neighborhood and working on his black Dodge Charger. Gonzalez didn’t know his name.

Gonzalez said she was told the shooting stemmed from an argument that broke out with another man earlier in the evening while the first man was walking down the street. He returned to the home on Abdella Street later to confront the homeowner.

That’s when gunfire broke out between the two men, she said.

”It was scary to have it happen right there, right in front of where we live,” Gonzalez said. “You never expect that, especially here.”

No one answered when a reporter knocked on the door of the house where neighbors said the shooting took place.