TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa judge denied bond for 31-year-old Joel Moreno Cobo, who is accused of shooting and killing 41-year-old Dedrick Sykes, known as DJ Shy Guy, during a roadway dispute in Ybor City.
Moreno Cobo is expected to be arrested again today for his involvement in another case.
Tampa Bay 28’s Annette Gutierrez was at the Hillsborough County Courthouse during Moreno Cobo’s detention hearing on Nov. 24.
Police arrested and charged Cobo with second-degree murder following the death of a well-known Tampa Bay DJ known as “DJ Shy Guy,” who was shot and killed on Nov. 14 in Ybor City.
WATCH: Man charged with DJ’s murder in Ybor City expected to be arrested again in separate case: Detention hearing
Man charged with DJ’s murder in Ybor City expected to be arrested again in separate case: Detention hearing
The shooting occurred at the intersection of East 5th Avenue and North 22nd Street. According to Tampa Police Detective Heather Donahue, Sykes was shot twice during what investigators describe as a roadway dispute.
Moreno Cobo appeared to faint in his chair while waiting to learn whether he would remain in jail during Monday’s hearing.
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Detective Donahue testified that Moreno Cobo was in his BMW waiting to make a turn when he flashed his lights and honked his horn at a woman in the middle of the intersection. Sykes was driving directly behind her.
“She said that, she heard yelling and her boyfriend, the victim, rolled his driver’s side window down, stopped the vehicle, and got out, at which time two shots rang out and she exited the vehicle to give him aid,” Donahue said, describing what Sykes’ girlfriend witnessed.
Surveillance video and witness accounts show the shooting happened just seconds after Sykes made the turn.
“There was 4 seconds from the time the vehicle made the turn, and the brake lights were visible, to the time you see the witness react,” Donahue said.
More details came out revealing Moreno Cobo had his girlfriend and nine-year-old daughter in the back seat when the shooting happened.
Public Defender Jennifer Spradley argued that Moreno Cobo acted in self-defense.
“Mr. Moreno said that the decedent told him to get out of the car, basically kind of like trying to have a confrontation. That’s how he took it…. That’s what he was telling you is the reason why he fired the gun.” Spradley said.
However, prosecutors revealed that Moreno Cobo was involved in another incident in February. State prosecutors said he allegedly pistol-whipped and attacked a man having a mental health episode in front of Bradley’s on 7th Avenue in Ybor City.
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Donahue said surveillance video showed Moreno Cobo striking the man more than 15 times. During that incident, his gun discharged.
“A bullet struck the front door of Bradley’s and shattered the door,” Donahue said.
Chief Judge Christopher Sabella granted the state’s request to deny bond, citing concerns with the February incident and the quick nature of the shooting that killed Sykes.
“It just seems like the reaction was extremely quick, less than 4 seconds, according to the testimony of the detective,” Sabella said.
State prosecutors said Moreno Cobo is expected to face charges related to the February incident. He will remain in jail without bond until his trial starts or until a stand your ground hearing, if his attorney decides to move forward with that.
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This is a developing story. Tampa Bay 28 will provide more details as they become available.
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