17-Year-Old Killed In Drive-By Shooting On Interstate 4

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help to identify the person responsible for shooting at a car on eastbound Interstate 4 Monday afternoon, killing a teenager inside.

At around 3:30 p.m., there was a 911 call about shots fired in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 4 near County Road 579. Both the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the area but found no victims.

A short time later, South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City notified the sheriff's office that a 17-year-old boy had arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. There were multiple bullet holes on the outside of the vehicle he arrived in with two other juveniles. The 17-year-old later died.

Eastbound I-4 was shut down from McIntosh Road to Branch Forbes Road while detectives canvassed a 2-mile stretch of the interstate searching for evidence but the shooter remains at large.

"We do not believe this was a random act of violence," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "It appears these three juveniles were targeted for some reason. I'm urging anyone who saw anything suspicious on I-4 (Monday) afternoon to please come forward with that information."

Detectives are searching for a tan-colored 1990s Ford Taurus. The car possibly has a gold tint.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) to be eligible for a cash reward.