UPDATE: A judge has denied bond for 29-year-old Kevin Arriola, the man accused of shooting at a vehicle following a chaotic series of crashes in downtown Tampa earlier today. This urgent decision comes as authorities confirm the gravity of the situation, which could have led to serious injury or even death.
According to the Tampa Police Department, Arriola was arrested after crashing his Mazda 3 into multiple cars on the Selmon Expressway exit ramp onto East Kennedy Boulevard. Witnesses reported that he was driving erratically before the collisions, which prompted a dangerous scene where Arriola exited his vehicle and opened fire on a red Chrysler 300.
“This was an extremely dangerous and senseless situation that could have easily resulted in tragedy,” stated Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.
When Hillsborough County deputies arrived, they found Arriola behaving erratically, reportedly yelling statements such as, “I killed her” and “I’m god.” After being read his rights, he confessed to firing his weapon at the Chrysler in an attempt to kill the driver, despite not knowing her.
The victim, a nurse who was on her way to assist others, confirmed she had never met Arriola. Officers discovered a total of nine bullet holes in her vehicle, specifically between the windshield, hood, and front right quarter panel. Video footage from a nearby tow vehicle and local surveillance cameras captured the alarming incident.
Arriola faces serious charges, including first-degree attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and firing into a vehicle. As of this report, he remains hospitalized.
Prosecutors have moved to keep Arriola in jail until his trial, and after his defense team opted not to contest the motion, Judge J. Logan Murphy ruled that he will have no bond until a later hearing can address the case.
The community remains on edge as the investigation unfolds. Authorities urge anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
