Tampa Police Report: Early Morning Dispute Turns Violent with Shooting

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An altercation in Tampa on Thursday morning led to one person being injured and another taken into custody. The incident, which escalated from a disagreement, occurred around 7 a.m. on North 14th Street, as reported by the Tampa Police Department.

In a separate incident, authorities are also investigating a home invasion in Ruskin.

According to investigators, the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Kenneth Blair, Jr., was involved in a dispute with an acquaintance. After telling the man to leave, Blair allegedly retrieved a firearm from his residence while the other man was preparing to depart on his bicycle.

Police reported that Blair returned outside with the unloaded firearm in one hand and the magazine in the other.

(WFLA photo)

At some point, the other man involved turned around and began riding back toward Blair’s home. Blair told him to stop, and when he did not, Blair racked the empty gun to scare the man, police said.

The man continued riding toward Blair, who then loaded his gun and cocked it again, according to the police department. Investigators said Blair shot the man after the man took a swing at him.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Blair was arrested and booked into the Orient Road Jail for one count of aggravated battery with a firearm.