Tampa Police Make Arrest in Deadly Shooting on 3000-Block of W Spruce Street

Tampa, FL (February 18, 2026)- Tampa Police arrested a 20-year-old man in connection to a deadly shooting that happened at a home on the 3000 block of W Spruce Street Sunday night.

Aniel Avidan Galo-Chavez (white male, 8/31/2005) was arrested and is now facing charges related to the shooting.

On February 15th, Tampa Police Officers responded to the home for the report of a man who had been shot. Officers arrived to find the man, a white male in his mid-30s, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers immediately detained a number of individuals at the residence and began gathering witness statements and collecting evidence. Investigators conducted multiple interviews to ensure accurate facts were collected and determine the timeline of events that led to the fatal shooting.

Preliminary information revealed that a group of people, who were all known to each other, were attending a cookout when numerous arguments and physical altercations took place between various individuals. One fight between Galo-Chavez, another adult male, and the victim turned physical. The physical fighting ended when the victim disengaged and left the room. Galo-Chavez then went into a bedroom, returning armed with a gun, and shot the unarmed victim. A gun was recovered at the scene and placed into evidence.

“This incident is a tragic reminder that conflicts should not be resolved with violence,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “A disagreement has now resulted in the permanent loss of a life and devastating consequences for everyone involved. Our detectives will always remain committed to thorough investigations to ensure justice is pursued.”

On February 17, after a thorough investigation, Galo-Chavez was arrested at his residence without incident. He has been charged with Second Degree Murder and was transported to Orient Road Jail.