Tampa motel fight: Suspect faces murder charge after shooting leaves man dead, police say

TAMPA, Fla. - A man was arrested and faces a second-degree murder charge after a shooting left a man dead Saturday night at a motel in the Seminole Heights neighborhood, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Tampa deadly shooting arrest

What we know:

Officers responded shortly after 11 p.m. to the 7100 block of North Nebraska Avenue for a report of a fight involving several people.

When officers arrived, they found a man in his late 30s who had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police identified the suspect as Fletcher McCray, 43, of New Tampa. 

According to TPD, McCray approached officers at the scene and told them he had shot the victim.

Seminole Heights motel fight

The backstory:

The initial investigation found that a group of people, including McCray, had been involved in a fight at another location earlier in the evening. Police said the shooting victim was not involved in that initial fight.

The group later continued fighting after arriving at a motel on Nebraska Avenue, according to investigators.

Surveillance video of shooting

Dig deeper:

McCray told investigators he shot the victim because the man threatened him.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video of the shooting, however, and said it did not appear to support McCray's account of what happened.

According to police, the video showed the victim with his hands up immediately before McCray shot him.

McCray was arrested on charges of second-degree murder with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.

Deadly shooting investigation 

What's next:

The investigation remains active, according to TPD.

Authorities said additional updates will be provided as they become available.

Tampa