Although the recent shooting in Wimauma was not random, Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies could not confirm that the shooting which landed 26-year-old Alejandro Rios in the hospital where he is currently in critical condition, was gang related.
According to deputies the shooting occurred on Sunday, January 29, at approximately 1:16 p.m. at 5219 Vernice St in Wimauma.
The victim was standing in the front yard of the Vernice St address when a gold or brown Dodge SUV drove by and the occupants of the vehicle, who are believed to be three Hispanic males, approximately 15 – 17 years of age, yelled out the window to the victim, calling him by name, deputies said.
The vehicle then stopped and the suspects—one of them armed with a handgun—exited the vehicle and fired several shots at the victim, striking him once in the stomach, deputies said.
Rios, who lives at 2600 W Lake Dr in Wimauma, was driven by private vehicle to South Bay Hospital and later airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.
