TAMPA, Fla. — The parents of a 20-year-old victim of the shooting in Ybor City are speaking out.


What You Need To Know

  • Harrison Boonstoppel, along with 14-year-old Elijah Wilson, were killed early Sunday

  • Harrison was an innocent bystander at the time of the shooting

  • One person is in custody, but Tampa Police say they believe there are at least two more people who fired shots

Harrison Boonstoppel, along with 14-year-old Elijah Wilson, were killed early Sunday. Fifteen others were hurt by the gunfire.

One person is in custody, but Tampa Police say they believe there are at least two more people who fired shots.

The department is working on an online portal with the FBI to collect tips, photos and videos.

Social media image of Harrison Boonstoppel. (Facebook)
Social media image of Harrison Boonstoppel. (Facebook)

Harrison Boonstoppel was an innocent bystander at the time of the shooting. He's remembered as friendly and humorous by his parents.

Their tears have not stopped falling since early Sunday morning.

"You think you have some kind of bubble that things like that won’t happen to you because you’re the person that’s caring about the world," said Brucie Boonstoppel, Harrison's mother. "And I realize I’m not lucky at all anymore."

Harrison's father is still hoping his son's car roars back into the driveway.

"I think he’s gonna drive into the street with his car, his loud car that we always heard when he came and went," Karel Boonstoppel said. "He had a good life. He had a happy life. He was doing well, had lots of friends. He was spreading his wings." 

Harrison's parents say this is a club they never thought the would be a part of and they sympathize with the other family.

"My heart breaks for them, and I'm sure they're feeling the same thing," Brucie Boonstoppel said. "Like of all the chances of that happening and all of those people being shot, that our two children died. It’s just not understandable. And I’m sure they feel the same way."

Harrison's parents called the shooting preventable and aren't blaming Ybor City, saying something like this could happen anywhere.

They are in the process of planning their son's funeral.