TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s been one year since a 7-year-old was killed in a shooting on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
With no arrests in the case, the family is pleading for answers while honoring the young boy, Yitzian Torres Garcia, who died at Ben T. Davis Beach last year.
“We have pictures, we have toys,” said Marisol Ayala, Garcia’s grandmother. “I have a lot of things in my house and I’m still going to keep them because he’s in my heart all the time.”
Ayala brought those photos and toys and lined them along the Courtney Campbell Causeway in memory of Garcia.
“We should’ve been here, all the families together celebrating,” Juan Carlos Hernandez said. “I should have my grandson right here with me.”
Now the family is setting off fireworks and releasing birds to honor their late grandson.
Family took Garcia to see fireworks at Ben T. Davis Beach for the Fourth of July one year ago when two groups began to argue over jet skis, which escalated to gunfire. Garcia’s family was not involved in the argument.
Hernandez rushed Garcia inside his vehicle to shield him from the flying bullets. Garcia was hit in the head. Hernandez lost a finger.
“I know a lot of people have pictures,” Ayala said. “I know people have video. There were too many people here and they’re still not talking. How can you hold this for one year?”
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said detectives have seen video taken the day of the shooting, but they still don’t have the full picture.
“Watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July should not be the end of the life of a 7-year-old or anyone involved,” Bercaw said.
With no arrests, Garcia’s family is pleading for justice to be served.
“The tragedy that happened last year for Fourth of July, it was our family,” Ayala said. “It could be yours. We’re still waiting for tips. We’re still waiting for people to call Crimestoppers. And we’re still waiting for an arrest.”
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have partnered with TPD to increase the reward to $25,000 for tips leading to an arrest.