TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tampa Man Arrested After Battle Involving Gun, Machete

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: December 22, 2008

Updated: 12/22/2008 01:32 pm

Luis Cruz

A man with a gun fought his stepfather, who wielded a machete, Sunday afternoon in Tampa following an argument about a child's car seat, Hillsborough County deputies say.

Hillsborough County deputies arrested the man with the gun, 28-year-old Luis Cruz of Tampa, about 7 p.m. Sunday. He was charged with simple battery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

His stepfather has not been charged, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

The incident began about 2 p.m. Sunday at 8228 Pinehurst Circle in Tampa. Cruz's stepfather took a child's car seat from a room being painted, which upset Cruz, Callaway said.

Cruz punched his stepfather several times, and his stepfather left the home and went to a shed, where he armed himself with a machete, according to a criminal arrest affidavit.

Cruz went to his own room and got a Baretta handgun, then confronted his stepfather again, shooting him in the leg, the affidavit states.

Cruz's stepfather sliced Cruz's left wrist with the machete, and Cruz fired another round from the gun, deputies say. The shot didn't strike his stepfather.

When a deputy arrived on scene, Cruz had a gun in his waistband.

His stepfather was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and Cruz also received medical treatment, Callaway said.

Cruz told investigators he shot his stepfather to prevent being attacked by a machete, Callaway said.
Cruz remained in Orient Road Jail today. His bail has been set at $21,000.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT