Homicide victim dies on Dale Mabry Highway

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Deputies are trying to figure out what led to the murder of a young man whose body was found next to a car stopped in the middle of North Dale Mabry Highway on Friday.

The scene is along Dale Mabry at Busch Boulevard in the Carrollwood area.  The view from SkyFOX showed one lane closed, along with the off ramp.  A gray sedan was stopped in the shoulder lane, ringed by crime scene tape.

The body of the victim, 34-year-old Andrew Montalbano, was found next to the car on the pavement.  But investigators don't believe he was killed there. 

Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Donna Lusczynski said detectives believe the victim was at the Lake Azzure apartments on Lincoln Cove Drive earlier in the afternoon, got into a confrontation with someone and was badly hurt. Then, he and several others left in a car to go to the hospital and the man died from his injuries.

Witnesses at the complex said they saw a white 4-door Dodge Journey SUV leaving the scene at the apartments. Deputies said it has a Lyft sticker in the windshield and a pink marking above the front wheel.

"We don't believe this is a random act. We believe the two individuals knew each other and had an association," Luczynski stated.

Several witnesses are being questioned, Luczynski added.