TAMPA, Fla — With heavy hearts, the community of Tampa continues to mourn the loss of four innocent lives taken in the devastating crash that shook Ybor City over the weekend. Court documents released Monday have identified the victims as Christina Richards, 25; Shalisa Johnson, 41; Sherman Jones, 53; and Marlon Collins, 53 all pedestrians who were struck when a speeding vehicle careened onto a crowded sidewalk.
According to the arrest affidavit for 22-year-old Silas Sampson, the suspect led police on a high-speed chase before crashing into a group of people gathered along Ybor City’s bustling 7th Avenue early Saturday morning. The impact was catastrophic. Three victims — Christina Richards, Shalisa Johnson, and Sherman Jones — were pronounced dead at the scene. The fourth victim, Marlon Collins, succumbed to his injuries later at the hospital despite emergency efforts to save him.
In total, 17 people were struck in the crash. Thirteen survivors sustained various injuries, with at least two listed in critical condition following the collision. While some victims have since been released from the hospital, others continue to recover as their families and the community rally around them in support and prayer.
The tragedy has left Ybor City reeling, as loved ones remember the victims not only for the way their lives ended, but for the light they brought to others while they lived. Christina Richards was described as vibrant and full of life; Shalisa Johnson, a loving mother and dedicated friend; Sherman Jones, a warm-hearted man known for his kindness and laughter; and Marlon Collins, a compassionate soul who cared deeply for those around him.
Each name now represents an irreplaceable life — a person whose story was cut short but whose memory will forever be etched in the hearts of those they leave behind. Vigils and memorials are already being planned throughout Tampa as the community comes together to honor their lives and offer strength to the survivors still healing from both physical and emotional wounds.
Silas Sampson, who now faces multiple counts of vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing with serious bodily injury, remains booked at the Hillsborough County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning for his pretrial detention hearing, where prosecutors are expected to request that he be held without bond.
As Tampa grieves this unimaginable loss, city leaders and residents alike are calling for unity, remembrance, and justice. The lives of Christina Richards, Shalisa Johnson, Sherman Jones, and Marlon Collins will not be forgotten. Their memory will continue to live on — in the hearts of their families, in the strength of the community, and in the love that remains long after tragedy.
May they rest in eternal peace.