OLDSMAR — A Pinellas County judge has found probable cause to charge Tyler Cordell McFarlane, 27, with two counts of attempted second-degree murder following a shooting incident in an Oldsmar neighborhood, according to court records.
The charges stem from events reported on December 22, 2025, in the area of 3600 Meriden Avenue. Investigators with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office say McFarlane confronted multiple residents while armed with a handgun.
According to investigators, the initial victim told deputies he was outside his residence when an unknown man approached and attempted to engage him in conversation. The suspect made incoherent statements, claimed gang affiliation, and appeared intoxicated while holding a red plastic cup. As the encounter escalated, the suspect allegedly displayed a handgun, made threatening statements, and followed the victim toward the front door of the residence.
The victim told detectives that at the threshold of the residence, the suspect pressed the handgun to his forehead and pulled the trigger. The firearm did not discharge, and an audible click was heard. The victim was able to deflect the weapon, retreat inside the residence, and lock the door. The suspect continued making threats from outside, including statements about calling others to the area.
Investigators say the suspect then moved through the neighborhood while armed and confronted additional residents. During a later encounter, a resident reported that the suspect pointed a handgun at him, prompting the resident to fire his own weapon. Investigators believe McFarlane was struck during that exchange and fled the area on foot.
A K-9 search did not locate the suspect. Deputies later found a blood trail in a wooded area near railroad tracks behind a nearby residence. Next to the blood trail, deputies recovered a cellphone inside a case containing a Florida identification card, an EBT card, a Visa card, and a Cash App debit card, all bearing the name Tyler McFarlane, along with a single metal house key. Investigators confirmed the phone belonged to McFarlane after it rang during a controlled call placed by law enforcement.
Court documents state McFarlane later contacted a family member and reported he had been shot in the leg, describing the injury as a through-and-through wound. He declined medical treatment and said he was staying at an undisclosed location in Pasco County.
A warrant for McFarlane’s arrest was issued on December 23, 2025. Bond was set at $250,000. Conditions of release include no contact with victims or their families, no possession of firearms or weapons, and GPS monitoring if released. The case remains pending in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County.