Tampa man arrested for fatal shooting over package of socks: police

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 30-year-old man was arrested in connection to a deadly shooting in Copeland Park last month, the Tampa Police Department announced Saturday.

According to police, the shooting occurred on Aug. 9 at 11001 N. 15th Street. When officers arrived, they found a man in his early 20s suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

A witness told officers the suspect, Jerome Parker, 30, had gotten into an altercation with the victim over a package of socks.

Police said Parker and the victim did not know each other.

The witness told investigators the two had gotten into an argument after the victim found socks on the ground, Parker accused them of stealing the socks from him, which led to a physical altercation.

During the fight, police said Parker threatened the victim with a gun. That’s when the victim punched the 30-year-old. Parker then fired the gun, fatally striking the victim.

“This was a completely senseless act of violence that took a young man’s life,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. “I’m thankful that the diligent work of our detectives led to an arrest which, I hope, provides a small sense of closure for the loved ones of the victim.”

Parker was charged with murder in the first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm.

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