The four victims killed after a car crashed into a crowd in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood early Saturday have been identified.
Authorities identified the victims as Christina Maria Richards, 25, Lisa Sherell Johnson, 41, Sherman Jones, 53, and Marlon Anthony Collins, 53, according to a criminal report affidavit from Hillsborough County.
Silas Sampson, 22, struck a crowd on Ybor City's lively 7th Avenue at around 12:47 a.m. while fleeing from an attempted traffic stop by the Florida Highway Patrol, police said. The traffic stop was initiated because Sampson was allegedly driving recklessly and had fled another traffic stop attempted by the Tampa Police Department, according to the affidavit. The Toyota Camry entered the Ybor City neighborhood after an unsuccessful precision immobilization technique (PIT) attempt, per the affidavit. A PIT is a tactic law enforcement deploys to stop a vehicle they are pursuing, often by forcing the car to spin out by striking its rear half.
Sampson was speeding eastbound on East 7th Avenue when he struck another vehicle at an intersection, according to the affidavit.
"The vehicle then traveled onto the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the intersection and struck at least 11 pedestrians and patrons of the Cooper Shaker and New York New York Pizza," a trooper wrote in the affidavit.
The 22-year-old driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene, but was detained by troopers. Troopers said he appeared to have slurred speech and "the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath," according to the affidavit. A gun fell from his waistband when he got out of the car.
Sampson allegedly "made spontaneous statements," including admitting he "made a mistake," acknowledging that he killed someone and asking to be taken to jail "so I can get these handcuffs off," the affidavit states.
He was arrested and charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude serious bodily injury or death, according to the affidavit. He was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.
It is not clear if Sampson has an attorney at this time.
In a statement issued Saturday, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw called the incident "a senseless tragedy."
“Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger. The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families," Bercaw said.
