Police Chase Ends In Tragedy Outside Florida LGBTQ Bar, Leaving Four Dead
A high-speed pursuit through Tampa’s Ybor City ended when a fleeing driver plowed into the patio of Bradley’s on 7th, killing four and injuring more than a dozen.
A police chase through Ybor City in Tampa, Florida ended in devastation early Saturday when a fleeing driver crashed into the patio of Bradley’s on 7th, a gay nightclub. Four people were killed and 13 were injured after the car jumped the curb and tore through the bar’s outdoor crowd just after 1 am.
Authorities say the driver, 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson, was spotted street racing and fled when officers tried to stop him. The Florida Highway Patrol attempted a PIT maneuver to force his car to spin out, but it failed. Moments later, the silver sedan plowed into the crowd outside Bradley’s.
“They were out in Ybor, having a good time, expecting to go home safely,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “And a careless, reckless driver takes everybody’s lives in his hands.”
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Three people died at the scene, and a fourth later at a hospital. Sampson was arrested on multiple felony charges, including vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing to elude police. He remains in custody without bond.
Bradley’s owner, Bradley Nelson, called the crash “a horrific event” and said the bar’s tight-knit community was shaken. “Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who were killed, and to all the injured,” he said. “The courage and dedication that [our staff] exhibited last night and today, is nothing but exemplary.”
Police and city officials have emphasized that the crash was not a targeted attack on the LGBTQ community. “This was a senseless tragedy,” said Chief Bercaw. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor described it as “devastating,” adding, “Families are grieving, first responders are hurting, and our city feels this loss.”
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The tragedy has reignited debate over Florida’s high-speed pursuit policies, which were loosened in 2024 to give officers more discretion. Critics argue the change has led to unnecessary deaths. “The deputies get so emotionally involved in a pursuit that they have difficulty letting it go,” retired officer Tom Gleason told CL Tampa, who described the suspect’s car as “a 3,000 pound bullet.” He also pointed out the obvious: “The guy driving the car that you’re chasing is not trained.”
By nightfall, mourners gathered outside Bradley’s for a candlelight vigil, leaving flowers and rainbow flags near the shattered patio.
Below is the full statement from Nelson:
