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Four Dead, Thirteen Injured After Driver Rams Crowd Outside Tampa LGBTQ+ Bar
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On Saturday, November 8, 2025, the vibrant nightlife of Tampa’s Ybor City was upended when a vehicle, allegedly driven by 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson, crashed into a crowd gathered outside Bradley’s on 7th, a cornerstone of the local LGBTQ+ community. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m., resulting in four fatalities and at least thirteen injuries, according to Tampa Police and local media reports .
According to authorities, Tampa police officers observed two vehicles engaged in street racing near Hanna Avenue and Nebraska Avenue. When officers attempted to intervene, Sampson fled, leading police on a chase that extended onto Hillsborough Avenue and I-275 Southbound. The Florida Highway Patrol joined the pursuit and attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. Despite these efforts, Sampson managed to continue driving, eventually reaching the busy 1500 block of East 7th Avenue, home to Bradley’s on 7th .
Surveillance and eyewitness accounts indicate that Sampson lost control of his vehicle and plowed into a crowd of pedestrians gathered outside the bar. Three victims died at the scene, and a fourth succumbed to injuries at a local hospital. At least thirteen others sustained injuries of varying severity. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by police nearby, still in possession of the vehicle’s key .
Silas Sampson faces multiple charges, including four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude causing bodily injury or death. The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to keep Sampson in custody until his trial, citing both the gravity of the incident and concerns for public safety .
Officials state that, at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that Sampson specifically targeted Bradley’s on 7th or any individual based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The tragedy appears to have been the culmination of reckless driving and an attempt to evade law enforcement, not a hate-motivated attack .
Bradley’s on 7th has long served as a welcoming space for Tampa’s LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. Community members and advocates, while expressing profound grief, have emphasized the importance of not jumping to conclusions about motive without clear evidence. Nonetheless, the incident has rekindled conversations about safety in LGBTQ+ spaces, especially given the history of targeted violence against such communities in the United States .
A vigil held outside the venue quickly drew hundreds of supporters, who mourned the victims and called for action to prevent similar tragedies. Some attendees demanded increased safety measures on busy nightlife corridors, while others highlighted the need for broader protections for LGBTQ+ spaces in the wake of both targeted and incidental violence .
Local leaders have pledged support for the victims’ families and the broader Ybor City community. City officials and LGBTQ+ organizations are coordinating resources for those affected, as investigations continue and the community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event.
