{"id":5320,"date":"2026-07-04T23:04:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T23:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=5320"},"modified":"2026-07-04T23:04:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T23:04:31","slug":"three-years-after-7-year-old-was-killed-in-fourth-of-july-shooting-tampa-family-still-searching-for-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=5320","title":{"rendered":"Three years after 7-year-old was killed in Fourth of July shooting, Tampa family still searching for justice"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>Three years after a stray bullet killed 7-year-old Yitzian Torres Garcia during a Fourth of July outing, his family says the holiday is no longer a celebration. Instead, they spend each Independence Day honoring his memory while pleading for answers in a case that remains unsolved.<\/p>

Read more Missing South Carolina 4-year-old girl believed dead; Parents arrested<\/a><\/p>

What we know:<\/p>

Yitzian Torres Garcia was 7 years old when he was shot and killed on July 4, 2023, while watching fireworks with his grandfather along the Courtney Campbell Causeway.<\/p>

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<\/div>

According to his grandfather, Juan Carlos Hernandez, an argument broke out between two groups over jet skis. During the confrontation, someone fired a gun into the air.<\/p>

Hernandez said he grabbed his grandson and dove into his pickup truck for cover, but one bullet pierced the vehicle, striking Hernandez in the hand and Yitzian in the head.<\/p>

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Three years later, no arrests have been made.<\/p>

What they’re saying:<\/p>

“For us, it’s not a celebration. We’re just looking for justice,” his grandmother Marisol Ayala said.<\/p>

Each year, the family returns to the memorial where Yitzian was killed to decorate it and remember the little boy they say loved cars, the beach and fishing.<\/p>

Read more Nathan\u2019s hot dog eating contest champs Chestnut, Sudo win again in 2026<\/a><\/p>

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“He passed away when he was seven,” she said, “He would be turning 11 next month.”<\/p>

What’s next:<\/p>

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said detectives continue to investigate the case and are following leads, but have not yet reached the point where charges can be filed.<\/p>

A $25,000 reward remains available for information leading to an arrest.<\/p>

Yitzian’s family hopes someone who knows what happened will finally come forward.<\/p>

“If you had the guts to take out your gun and shoot, you should turn yourself in,” Ayala said.<\/p>

Read more Thousands of runners complete sold-out St. Pete Pier Fourth of July race<\/a><\/p> <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three years after a stray bullet killed 7-year-old Yitzian Torres Garcia during a Fourth of July outing, his family says the holiday is no longer a celebration. 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