By Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — An angry dispute in the midst of a large crowd ended with gunfire and the shooting of at least one man Wednesday afternoon, just blocks from a packed Tropicana Field. Police said there also may be a second gunshot victim.
The incident was reported around 2:40 p.m. along the 2500 block of Third Avenue S, according to St. Petersburg police.
A large crowd gathered there and a heated argument broke out between several unidentified individuals. Police said they don't know what the arguing was about, but that several of the participants pulled out guns and started shooting.
Matthew Leaks, 19, was shot in the foot and taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police also heard a report that an unidentified man was also hit by gunfire and hobbled away with what appeared to be a wounded leg. But officers haven't found him yet and by late Wednesday he had yet to show up at any local hospitals.
Police said they found evidence that multiple rounds were fired during the dispute. No suspects were identified. The investigation is continuing.