Tampa police say they are looking at other armed robberies in the area to see whether the incidents might be connected to the Wednesday morning shooting death of a University of Tampa student.
Police want to see whether any of the robbery suspects match the description of the man who reportedly shot and killed UT athlete Ryan McCall after trying to rob him, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.
The suspect became agitated when McCall and a friend, Michael Harahan, didn't have more money on them, she said.
Harahan, who was visiting from out of town, ran for help and heard a gunshot.
The suspect fatally shot McCall, 21, around 3 a.m. on the north side of the North Boulevard bridge. McCall and Harahan were walking home from the Retreat lounge.
The suspect got a small amount of cash, McElroy said. She did not know how much.
The violence suggests to law enforcement that the suspect was not a novice criminal.
"Murder is usually not someone's first crime," she said.
Tampa police have not noticed an increase in robberies lately, McElroy said.
Police continue to search for the robber, described as a black man in his mid-20s to mid-30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He had short cropped hair, possibly facial hair and a husky build. He was wearing a white T-shirt and was armed with a handgun, police say.
Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call (813) 276-3200.
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