11 people wounded after 'targeted' drive-by shooting in Florida
01/31/2023 1:48 pm PST
LAKELAND, Fla. (TCD) -- Eleven people were injured, including two seriously, after a number of suspects reportedly opened fire at a group of people in what police say was a “targeted attack.”
On Monday, Jan. 30, Lakeland Police Department officers responded to a shooting call on at 3:43 p.m. near Iowa Avenue North and Plum Street. Ten people were reportedly injured at the time, including two critically.
According to Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor, police arrived within one minute of receiving the 911 call. One person was shot in the abdomen and the other in the jaw. Eight others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Taylor said Tuesday, Jan. 31, that the victim count increased to 11 after another person walked into a hospital with minor injuries. The victim who was shot in the face was reportedly transported to Tampa General Hospital, while the person with the abdomen injury remains in the hospital in Lakeland.
Taylor believes the other nine victims will be released. All 11 victims were reportedly male.
The Lakeland Ledger reports the victims were between 20 and 35 years old. A school bus reportedly dropped off students just minutes before the gunfire.
The suspects were reportedly traveling in a blue Nissan Altima when the shooting occurred, and on Tuesday, Taylor said he had a "high level of confidence" that officers found the vehicle. The shooters allegedly opened fire from all four windows, then sped off.
Taylor said, "We have reason to believe this was a targeted event, that it was not a random act."
According to Taylor, investigators located a "felony amount" of marijuana at the location of the shooting.
Police do not have any suspects in custody yet, but Taylor said detectives "have some very promising leads."
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on TikTok.
