Two Florida men are in custody and a third suffered gunshot wounds after a brazen shooting that was caught on camera during a police helicopter chase early Monday.
The video shows two men creeping through the parking lot around 2 a.m., checking the victim’s car from various angles. As they approached, the gunman had his hand down the front of his pants.
After getting close enough to make eye contact with the victim, he pulled out a silver handgun and fired at least six shots from just a few feet away, according to the video.
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Surveillance video from Florida shows the shooting at close range. One man was injured and two people were arrested after a brazen ambush shooting was captured on security camera outside a Tampa strip club, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
The victim, a 39-year-old man who was in the passenger seat, ducked for cover. Another person in the driver’s seat runs away from the camera.
Police later said the male victim suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
“The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office does not tolerate any form of violence in our community,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “These two will be held accountable for their reckless and violent actions.”
Officers patrolling the area heard gunshots and when they arrived, they saw a white SUV fleeing the parking lot.
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Surveillance video from Florida shows the shooting at close range. A daring ambush shooting was captured on a security camera outside a Tampa strip club, leaving one man injured and two arrested, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
The driver refused to pull over, so the sheriff’s aviation unit was dispatched and pursued the suspect’s vehicle until additional officers, Tampa police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers surrounded the suspect’s vehicle near a stop sign.
“Our agents and law enforcement partners demonstrated incredible skill and teamwork in apprehending these criminals,” Chronister said. “Let’s make our message clear: Anyone who believes they can bring violence into our communities will be met with the full force of the law.”
Japhet Rodriguez (left) is the accused gunman seen on video firing at a man sitting in the passenger seat of a car in a Tampa parking lot. Kenneth Jackson (right) is the alleged getaway driver. The two were arrested after a pursuit assisted by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office aviation units, state troopers, and Tampa police. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)
The suspects were identified as Japhet Rodriguez, 39, and Kenneth Jackson, 34.
The driver, Jackson, allegedly fled on foot before being tackled by Tampa police nearby. He is charged with driving without a license, resisting arrest and attempted first-degree murder.
Surveillance video from Florida shows the shooting at close range. A daring ambush shooting was captured on a security camera outside a Tampa strip club, leaving one man injured and two arrested, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
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After police surrounded the car, Rodriguez surrendered, authorities said. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
FOX News’ Emmett Jones contributed to this report.
