Unraveling the Ybor City Tragedy: Insights from New Videos

In the early hours of Sunday, a violent altercation between two groups in Ybor City escalated into a tragic mass shooting, leaving two dead and 16 injured. The victims were identified as 14-year-old Elijah Jaquan Wilson and 20-year-old Harrison Boonstoppel. The incident unfolded at approximately 3 a.m., with social media now featuring multiple videos capturing the harrowing events.

A poignant Facebook post by Ava Boonstoppel, the twin sister of Harrison, expressed the family’s grief, describing him as a “ray of sunshine” and lamenting the senseless act of gun violence that claimed his life.

Video footage uploaded on Instagram by user Rainokari documented the moment a man brandished a gun outside the Ybor Taphouse. Panic ensued among the crowd as shots were fired, leading to the tragic aftermath seen in an unedited video where one victim lay in the middle of 7th Avenue.

Rainokari’s second video depicted the aftermath, showing officers tending to wounded individuals on bloody sidewalks. Another social media post by Bobby Blish captured the lively atmosphere of Ybor City before the shooting disrupted Halloween celebrations. Blish described the night as “amazing” until the tragic turn of events.

In total, 15 individuals, aged between 18 and 27, sustained gunshot wounds among the 16 injured. Most victims have been released from the hospital, with the remaining five reported as stable with non-life-threatening injuries as of 12:30 p.m.

A suspect, 22-year-old Tyrell Stephen Phillips, has been arrested on a charge of second-degree murder and is in jail without bond. Detectives continue their search for other potential suspects involved in the incident.

If you have any information related to the shooting, please contact Tampa police at 813-231-6130, send a tip via TIP411, or reach out to Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS.

Victims’ Details