A Hillsborough County judge has dismissed the second-degree murder charge against Joel Moreno-Cobo, who shot and killed DJ Dedrick Sykes during a road rage incident in Ybor City in November 2025. The judge ruled that Moreno-Cobo was justified in using deadly force under Florida's Stand Your Ground law and granted him immunity.
Moreno-Cobo testified that he feared for his life and the lives of his girlfriend and young child who were in the car with him when Sykes approached his vehicle. He stated that Sykes came within inches of his window, and he fired two shots after his hands were out of view, although he admitted he never saw a weapon on Sykes.
Prosecutors argued that the evidence did not support self-defense, noting that Sykes, who was unarmed according to a passenger in his vehicle, only approached the car window and made no explicit verbal threats of imminent death or serious harm. However, Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Lyann Goudie found Moreno-Cobo's testimony credible.
The judge wrote that Moreno-Cobo "did face an imminent threat of the commission of a forcible felony, great bodily harm or death" and acted reasonably and justifiably. She also found that Sykes was the initial aggressor, having stopped his vehicle and approached Moreno-Cobo's car while it was impeded by traffic.
Tampa police responded to the intersection of East 5th Avenue and North 22nd Street on November 14, 2025, after reports of gunfire. Officers found Sykes, known as DJ Shy Guy, with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Moreno-Cobo remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, claiming self-defense during a roadway dispute.
The incident began when Moreno-Cobo's vehicle was blocked by another car at a stop sign. Sykes, driving behind Moreno-Cobo, reportedly flashed his headlights. After both vehicles turned onto East 5th Avenue, Sykes followed and stopped his Jeep, then exited and approached Moreno-Cobo's car. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire shortly after.
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office released a statement indicating they respectfully disagreed with the court's decision but would continue to advocate for accountability when evidence supports criminal charges. The office expressed their condolences to Sykes' family.
Family members of Dedrick Sykes expressed their devastation and confusion over the ruling, questioning the outcome of the case. Curtis Reddick, Sykes' uncle, told WFLA News, "We don’t not honor our judicial system or what the judge ruled. It doesn’t mean we don’t hurt." Bruce Sykes, another uncle, told Fox 13, "I know closure is not happening right now, but justice, we'll have to see what that is. But closure, not yet. Just doesn’t sit right, that he gets to go on, and Dedrick doesn’t."
Moreno-Cobo's defense team maintained that his actions were justified. Detectives had also looked into a prior incident where Moreno-Cobo allegedly pistol-whipped a man, but argued it was separate from the deadly confrontation. Moreno-Cobo was taken into custody a week after the shooting and held without bond until the judge's ruling.