Bio

Silvio Izquierdo-Leyva was a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States in the mid-1990s. Contemporary reports described him as a refugee from Cuba who had passed through the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay before settling for a time in Mobile, Alabama. A Catholic Social Services worker in Mobile described him as a hard worker who did not drink. Publicly available reporting indicates that he later moved to Tampa, Florida, where he lived with or near relatives for periods of time.

Before the killings, Izquierdo-Leyva worked at the Radisson Bay Harbor Hotel in Tampa. Reports described him as a hotel housekeeper or laundry worker who had been employed there for only a few months. He spoke little English and was known among some relatives as quiet and reserved. Some family members said they had not seen signs of violence before the shooting, although later reports stated he had been arrested in Alabama in 1997 in connection with a stabbing incident.

Izquierdo-Leyva had a daughter living in Cuba and reportedly spoke about wanting to bring her to the United States. In November 1999, shortly before the murders, he returned to Cuba for a visit. Family members and acquaintances said that after the trip he became more involved in Santeria and began wearing white clothing, which relatives linked to religious practice. 

Murder Story

On December 30, 1999, the Radisson Bay Harbor Hotel in Tampa was crowded with visitors, including football fans in town for the Outback Bowl. At about 3:00 p.m., Izquierdo-Leyva opened fire inside and around the hotel. He targeted people who worked at the hotel rather than guests. Four hotel employees were killed: Eric Pedroso, Barbara Carter, Jose R. Aguilar, and George C. Jones. Three other people were wounded during the attack.

After leaving the hotel, Izquierdo-Leyva fled in a stolen vehicle. He later tried to carjack another motorist, Dolores Perdomo. When she did not give up her car, he shot and killed her. He then stole another vehicle and drove away. Police arrested him the same day near Spruce Street and North MacDill Avenue in Tampa. Reports described him as calm when he was taken into custody.

Izquierdo-Leyva was charged with five counts of first-degree murder and additional charges connected to the shootings and carjackings. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty. His defense was expected to focus on mental illness, and reports later stated that multiple doctors agreed he had severe mental illness at the time of the rampage. In exchange for avoiding a death sentence, he pleaded guilty.

On April 10, 2002, Izquierdo-Leyva pleaded guilty to the murders and related crimes. On April 15, 2002, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The plea covered five murders, attempted murders, aggravated assault, carjacking, and attempted carjacking.