‘Tampa Vs. St. Pete’ Boxing Match Against Gun Violence Ends In Shooting

Around 200 people who were attending a boxing match were horrified as gunfire broke out, ending the event and killing one person.

The event, “Tampa vs. St. Pete,” was organized by the Neighborhood Boxing League, an advocacy group dedicated to fighting gun violence by encouraging community members to take up boxing.

The event’s website states: “With the rise of gun violence around the country, The founders of The Neighborhood Boxing League decided that change needs to be made within the community. So they began the Guns Down Gloves Up Movement, encouraging people to express their anger and frustration in a different way. Rather than handling disagreements by grabbing a gun, how about fight it out and LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY!”

The event took a tragic turn when gunfire broke out, bringing an abrupt end to the fight. The shooting reportedly began when two groups at the event got into an altercation that escalated to violence. One person was killed in the crossfire. St. Petersburg police identified the victim as 21-year-old Trevor Barton.

St. Petersburg’s councilwoman, Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, confirmed that she owns the property where the match was being held and regularly leases it out for events. She said that Barton was a sibling of one of her employees.

Police reported that four other adults were injured during the incident, two men and two women. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Robert Cooley, 21. Police have charged him with carrying a concealed firearm and discharging a firearm in public. The department claimed that it had no knowledge of the boxing event prior to the shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing and more arrests are a possibility.

The St. Petersburg police urge anyone with information about the incident to call 727-893-7780 or text SPPD plus the tip to TIP411.