In the quiet of a late spring afternoon in Progress Village, a senseless act of violence shattered the lives of a family and left a community reeling. Terrel Ferrell, a 24-year-old Tampa resident, was fatally shot while sitting in the passenger seat of a car, a young child strapped in the backseat, unaware of the tragedy unfolding. The incident, which occurred at the intersection of Progress Boulevard and South 82nd Street, has left a profound mark on those who knew Ferrell and raised urgent questions about safety and gun violence in Hillsborough County.
On Friday, May 30, 2025, at approximately 4:19 p.m., Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire at the bustling intersection. They arrived to find Ferrell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. The driver, an unnamed woman, and a child in the backseat were unharmed but undoubtedly shaken. The woman had pulled over to speak with Dayjon Octavious Clarke, a 24-year-old Tampa man, when the encounter took a deadly turn. For reasons not yet disclosed by authorities, Clarke allegedly opened fire on the vehicle, striking Ferrell. In a desperate attempt to flee, the driver sped away, inadvertently colliding with a motorized bicyclist, who sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The car came to a stop at a nearby Thorntons convenience store, where the driver sought help. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Ferrell succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 5:45 p.m.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office moved swiftly to identify and apprehend the suspect. On Monday, June 2, 2025, deputies arrested Clarke at a residence on the 100 block of Logarto Circle West in Lutz, a quiet suburban area north of Tampa. Clarke now faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting into or within a vehicle. He was booked into Orient Road Jail, where he is being held without bond, pending further legal proceedings. Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned the act, emphasizing the profound loss and danger posed by the shooting. “This violent act stole a young man’s life and put innocent lives in jeopardy—including a child,” Chronister said in a statement. The investigation remains active, with authorities still working to uncover the motive behind the shooting and the nature of the relationship between Clarke and the vehicle’s occupants, who were reportedly acquainted.
The tragedy has struck a chord in Progress Village, a tight-knit community in southeastern Hillsborough County. Ferrell’s death marks another grim chapter in the area’s struggle with violent crime, prompting renewed calls for community-based solutions and stronger measures to curb gun violence. Residents have expressed grief and frustration, with many gathering informally to honor Ferrell’s memory. While little has been publicly shared about Ferrell’s life, those close to him described him as a vibrant young man with a promising future, cut short by an act of inexplicable violence.
The incident also highlights the broader issue of gun-related incidents in Tampa, where law enforcement has been grappling with a rise in such cases. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has intensified efforts to remove illegal firearms from the streets, with recent operations yielding dozens of arrests and the seizure of dangerous weapons. Yet, the loss of Ferrell underscores the challenges that remain. Community leaders are urging residents to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation, emphasizing the importance of collective action to prevent further tragedies.
As the legal process unfolds, Clarke’s arrest brings a measure of closure to a grieving community, but it cannot erase the pain of Ferrell’s loss. The child in the backseat, spared physical harm, will grow up in the shadow of this tragedy, a stark reminder of the human cost of violence. Authorities encourage anyone with information to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200. For now, Progress Village mourns, holding tight to memories of a young man whose life ended too soon.
