Teen who mistook car for Uber ride shot dead, state attorney to decide if driver can use 'stand your ground' defense
TAMPA, FLORIDA: A university of Tampa student Carson Senfield was shot dead by a driver when he accidentally tried to get into his car thinking it was his uber on September 17, following a night of celebrating his 19th Birthday. Carson who is originally from Buffalo, New York was shot dead in the upper body. So far the unidentified driver has not been arrested whilst the state attorney is deciding whether the motorist was justified in killing the teen under Florida law of 'stand your ground.'
Florida's controversial 'stand your ground' law permits one to use deadly force to defend themselves if they believe they are in 'imminent danger'. Before the tragic incident unfolded Carson had gotten off his first uber that dropped him at a nearby location from his home on West Arch Street before he tried to get into a stranger's car thinking it was his uber. The Sophomore was then shot by the driver and was pronounced dead on the spot in Tampa, Florida.
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The Tampa Police Department says, the unidentified driver is now cooperating with the police and has not been arrested as it is now up to the State Attorney's Office to decide if the shooter's action was justified or not. The driver who was inside the car alleges he was in fear of his life before he shot and killed Carson. Carson's devasted father Daren Senfield says it was a "senseless tragedy!" Daren told WGRZ, "To us the details will play themselves out. we don't have our son we are mourning! we are heartbroken! we are devasted!" Daren said he talked to his son two days ago before Carson was celebrating his birthday with his friends on Friday evening. He told the outlet, "It was a senseless tragedy that we are still trying to figure it out, but at this point, it doesn't really matter we don't have our Carson with us."
A friend of Carson, Jacob Skintges paid tribute to his tragic loss and said, "From the time i met the kid, the brightest in the room! he would make anyone laugh and i just want everyone to remember him as that because that's what was he was." A GoFundMe has been set up for Carson's tragic loss, but his father Daren says he will use the money to set up a scholarship in his son's name. The father said, "he will direct the money to a scholarship to make sure kids like Carson, kids that have love for other people will have the chance to go to college." The University of Tampa and Orchard Park School District where Carson graduated in 2021, both paid tribute to Carson's death and mourned the tragic loss.