A routine Monday evening turned deadly at a North Tampa, Florida, 7-Eleven when an employee shot and killed a customer after a heated argument, according to police.
Tampa Police Department officers were called to the convenience store on the 10,000 block of North Nebraska Avenue around 6:14 p.m. on March 31, 2025. Upon arrival, they found a male customer with a gunshot wound, according to police reports.
The injured man was transported to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but he later died from his injuries, police stated.
Initial investigations suggest the fatal incident began with a verbal altercation between the employee and the customer. As the dispute escalated, the employee reportedly drew a firearm and shot the customer.
Christopher Rosario, a resident of the area for almost a decade, expressed his shock over the event. “I’ve been living here for eight years now, and this is the first time I’ve seen a crime like this,” Rosario said. “I don’t know what happened.”
Conversely, not all locals share Rosario’s surprise. Glenn McCall, a nearby business owner, commented that such incidents have become more common in the neighborhood.
“Nothing really surprises you around here anymore,” McCall noted. “Everybody’s on edge. It is what it is.”
McCall also advised caution in certain areas of Tampa. “You just have to watch what you’re doing in certain areas and this is one of them,” he said.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities or ages of those involved in the shooting as of Tuesday. Details on what led the altercation to escalate remain unknown, and police have not revealed whether charges will be filed against the employee.
Officials from the Tampa Police Department confirmed the employee is cooperating with the investigation as they work to understand the sequence of events that resulted in the fatal shooting. Law enforcement has reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the community while the investigation continues.
This occurrence is set against a backdrop of other criminal activities recently reported in Tampa convenience stores. In an unrelated incident earlier this year, Tampa Police arrested 30-year-old Alec Holmes for allegedly attempting to rob a man at gunpoint in the parking lot of another 7-Eleven in the city. The victim escaped unharmed and alerted authorities, leading to Holmes’ quick arrest. He faces multiple charges, including attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to police records.
The North Nebraska Avenue area, where the March 31 shooting occurred, has seen periodic criminal incidents over the years, raising ongoing safety concerns among local business owners and residents.
Authorities continue their investigation into all aspects of the incident, including reviewing surveillance footage from the store’s security system and interviewing potential witnesses who may have been present during the confrontation.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Tampa Police Department as the investigation remains active.
Police officials have indicated they will provide updates as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available to the public.