On July 4, 2023, 7-year-old Yitzian Torres Garcia was fatally shot while celebrating the Fourth of July with his grandfather, Juan Carlos Hernandez, along the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa, Florida. The incident occurred when two groups of men, unrelated to Yitzian and his grandfather, got into an argument over the reckless use of jet skis that were driving too close to children playing in the water. The argument escalated, and members of the two groups exchanged gunfire.
Yitzian and his grandfather had arrived at the location to watch the fireworks, a tradition they were looking forward to. As the shooting broke out, Hernandez grabbed Yitzian and pulled him into his pickup truck in an attempt to protect him. However, a bullet pierced the truck, hitting Hernandez in the hand and fatally striking Yitzian in the head. Despite immediate medical attention, Yitzian was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Yitzian, who was visiting his grandparents from Puerto Rico, was described by his family as a cheerful, intelligent, and full-of-life boy. He had plans to spend the rest of his summer vacation with his grandparents, including a trip to Disney World to celebrate his upcoming eighth birthday. Instead, he was buried in Puerto Rico before his birthday.
The investigation into Yitzian's death has been ongoing, but as of the current date, no arrests have been made. The Tampa Police Department, along with the FBI and ATF, have been working tirelessly to identify and arrest the suspects. The reward for information leading to an arrest has been increased to $25,000, with the family and authorities pleading for anyone with information to come forward.
Yitzian's family has been holding memorial services and vigils to honor his memory and seek justice. On the anniversary of his death, they held a memorial service at the scene of the shooting, where they lit off the fireworks Yitzian was supposed to set off the previous year. The family continues to advocate for justice, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable for Yitzian's tragic death.
