Father's Day event ends with mass shooting, 1 dead and 9 injured; Tampa man in custody

(Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

By Anthony Payero

(TAMPA, Fla.) Police arrested a Tampa man on Sunday after a mass shooting broke out at a Father's Day event in Royal that resulted in one fatality and nine injuries, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, per WFLA.

According to Chief Deputy Chris Haworth, the incident took place after two Tampa locals "came upon each other" at the event by coincidence. Haworth said the suspect, 22-year-old Rapheal Tyree Thomas, brandished a gun and opened fire at the other person.

Deputies who arrived at the scene identified Thomas as the suspect thanks to bystanders, according to WFLA. Bodycam footage displayed deputies finding Thomas underneath a car. They pulled him out from under the car and detained him.

As a result of the shooting, 10 people were hospitalized. One was reported dead and another remained in the intensive care unit, WFLA reports. Haworth released the identity of the fallen victim — Cornecia Quanshay Smikle, a 25-year-old Tampa native.

The two individuals ran into each other at an annual event held in Royal by locals on County Road 235, Haworth said. The event takes place on private property but sometimes heads into public areas.

The suspect and victim were reported to have criminal backgrounds. Thomas is facing multiple charges including one count of homicide, eight counts of aggravated battery and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

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