5 Easter Night Shooting Suspects Arrested: St. Pete Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Five suspects involved in an Easter night shooting outside a St. Petersburg sports bar have been taken into custody, authorities said. (Watch surveillance footage of the shooting below.)

The final two suspects involved in the shooting outside Sonic Sports Bar and Lounge, 400 49th Street S., turned themselves into the Pinellas County Jail, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

During the Sunday night shooting, a group of men fired more than 60 rounds into the crowd. Four people were shot and six cars, some occupied, were hit by bullets.

• Also Read: Easter Shootout Outside Bar Injures 4 People: St. Pete Police

• Christopher Atkins, 24, attempted second-degree murder;
• Willie Cookinson, 24, attempted second-degree murder and felon in possession;
• Elias Torres, 32, principal to attempted second-degree murder;
• Keith Wesby, 21, attempted second-degree murder;
• Kevontre Wesby, 20, attempted second-degree murder, carrying a concealed firearm and delinquent in possession of a firearm.

After the shooting, investigators identified two houses connected to the suspect, one on Palm Avenue North in St. Petersburg, the other on Trevesta Place in Palmetto.

Both homes are rented by rapper Rodarius Green, who is also known as Rod Wave, or one of his businesses, police said.

A SWAT team served a search warrant at the St. Petersburg home on Monday evening. Though they didn’t find the shooters there, two men were arrested on drug and weapons charges.

Investigators seized five rifles, five handguns, ammunition, more than $10,000 and various pieces of jewelry.

Since March 2022, St. Petersburg police have been investigating “a violent group involved in drug trafficking and shootings,” the agency said. The group identifies itself as the “YGs” or Young Gangsters.

A number of the group’s members have been seen with Rod Wave since last summer, police said.

Three of the men arrested in connection with Sunday’s shooting are members of the group. In addition to living in home’s owned by the rapper or his record label, they also drive vehicles registered to him.

Watch surveillance footage from the shooting below: