Tampa Police Arrest Suspect in Attempted Murder After Monday Shooting

TAMPA, FL (February 17, 2026) - - Tampa Police arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with a shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon near the intersection of N. 27th St and E. 97th Ave. that left another man critically injured. 

Just after 4:00 pm on February 16, 2026, officers responded to reports of gunfire, receiving updates that a male victim had been shot and a suspect in an orange hoodie was running from the scene. Upon arrival, officers located a black male in his late 30s suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body. They immediately provided critical life-saving care until Tampa Fire Rescue arrived to transport the victim to a local hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Evidence gathered at the scene indicates that the suspect, later identified as Emanuel Watson (black male, 6/9/1992), and the victim were known to each other and had been involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical. This dispute escalated when Watson produced a firearm and shot the victim multiple times before fleeing. Officers quickly located Watson in the backyard of a residence in the 10000 block of N. 26th St, where he was detained without further incident. 

"The swift arrest of this suspect is a testament to the training and quick instincts of our officers who ran toward danger to save a life and make a neighborhood safer," said Chief Lee Bercaw. "An argument should never result in gunfire, and we will continue to hold those who resort to such senseless violence accountable for their actions."

Watson was charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Weapon, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was transported to the Orient Road Jail. This remains an active investigation.