‘Dangerous behavior’: Ybor parking garage shooting suspect will remain jailed until trial

Kevin Accettulla
·2 min read
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man accused of shooting three people in an Ybor parking garage over the weekend will remain jailed until his trial, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

Sunny Wallace, 21, allegedly shot three people in a parking garage in the 1500 block of East 5th Avenue, according to officials.

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Prosecutors argued that there were no conditions that could be placed upon his release that would protect the community from his “dangerous behavior.”

Wallace said the victims were “talking smack” and he shot them in self-defense, according to the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit.

The three victims were taken to a hospital and all are expected to be OK, according to officials. One of the victims must use a wheelchair while he recovers.

Jett Tjader testified in court Tuesday that he was walking with his brother and friend to their car after a night out in Ybor City when they walked past a car. Wallace allegedly opened the passenger door and asked what he was doing.

“I think he was looking to hurt somebody,” Tjader said.

The victim said he stepped back from the car, and Wallace opened fire, prosecutors said. The victim said he didn’t know Wallace and had no other contact with him.

“I got shot at my elbow first and then I turned to run away and then I got shot in my back,” he said. “I just yelled ‘run’ when I heard gunshots.”

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Wallace tried to escape officers who arrived at the parking garage but he crashed into another car, prosecutors said.

“Three young lives could have been lost in this senseless act of gun violence,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement. “We are fortunate the victims are here to tell their stories, and we will help them on their road to recovery while seeking justice together.”

Wallace previously faced other gun charges in Levy County as a juvenile, prosecutors said. He’s also currently on probation out of Marion County for disorderly conduct and resisting a police office.

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