Arrest made in road rage death of well-known local DJ

Arrest made in deadly road rage incident in Tampa

FOX 13's Matthew McClellan reports.

TAMPA - Tampa Police have arrested 31-year-old Joel Moreno Cobo, charging him with second-degree murder in the November 14 shooting death of Dedrick Lamar Sykes, known in Tampa’s nightlife as DJ Shy Guy.

The arrest followed a week of public pressure after police said the shooter stayed at the scene and claimed self-defense. Detectives now say Sykes was unarmed and made no threats during the encounter. They say Cobo was taken into custody Thursday night at his home without incident.

According to investigators, the shooting happened near East 5th Avenue and North 22nd Street in Ybor City. Witnesses told police the two drivers exchanged words after a traffic dispute. Within seconds, gunfire erupted, striking Sykes. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Police say the gun was recovered from Cobo’s waistband at the scene.

Community Reaction:

Days after the shooting, friends, clergy, and community leaders gathered outside the Tampa Police Department demanding an arrest. They questioned why the shooter’s name had not been released and why Sykes’s death was being framed as a case of self-defense.

One of Sykes’s friends, Tony Parker, described him as "literally Mr. Positive Vibes Only. If it wasn’t positive, he wasn’t a part of it."

Others expressed frustration with what they saw as unequal treatment when Black victims are involved. Pastor Elvis Piggott said, "The community has a right to know that there’s someone out in this community… that will take it to the level of taking someone’s life. For this to be covered up this long, it is absolutely appalling."

That call for answers grew louder each day, with speakers linking the delay to a broader history of how "stand your ground" and self-defense laws have been applied unevenly in Florida and across the country.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Jail

The Broader Context:

Self-defense laws in states like Florida and Georgia have drawn scrutiny for more than a decade, particularly in cases involving Black victims — from Trayvon Martin in 2012 to Ahmaud Arbery in 2020. In those cases, the initial hesitation to make arrests reinforced longstanding mistrust between communities of color and law enforcement.

Community leaders in Tampa said Sykes’s case felt like part of that same pattern: a Black man killed, his shooter unnamed, and an investigation that seemed to move slowly.

Police Chief Lee Bercaw said Thursday that "Justice is rooted in evidence, and that has guided our entire investigation." The department said it delayed naming Cobo to protect the integrity of the case and to ensure the eventual charge would hold up in court. "This arrest is the direct result of patience and precision, ensuring that we could bring a suspect into custody, and provide fact-based answers to a grieving family as they navigate this difficult time."

What's next:

Cobo is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail and is expected to make his first court appearance Friday afternoon.

Funeral services for Sykes are scheduled today in Plant City, where friends and fans are gathering to celebrate his life and music.