A Florida drive-by shooting in the middle of the day left at least 10 injured in a Lakeland neighborhood. Authorities are still searching for the four suspects who were aboard a blue vehicle.
Lakeland Police Department Chief Sam Taylor said a dark blue Nissan four-door sedan slowed near the scene, rolled down its windows and opened fire. Officials say they believe there were four gunmen inside the car.
“The vehicle slowed down, did not stop, and all four windows were rolled down. It appeared to be occupied by four shooters in the vehicle,” Taylor said. “They started shooting from all four windows of the vehicle and at men on both sides.”
The shooting took place along North Iowa Avenue near Plum Street at about 3:43 p.m. Monday.
Three of the victims were found at the scene when the police arrived at the site and they were taken to a care center. The rest of the injured were taken away in personal vehicles.
As of Monday night, two of the 10 injured were in critical condition and required surgery. The injured were between the ages of 20 and 35.
Taylor said that in his more than 30 years on the force, he had never worked on a case like this.
“This doesn’t happen in Lakeland,” Chief Taylor explained. “I have been here 34 years and I can tell you that I have never worked at an event where so many people have been shot at the same time.”
Agents said the suspect vehicle sped away after the shooting broke out, and they are searching for the car and the shooters. LPD noted that the vehicle had dark tinted windows and a temporary license plate.
“The Nissan, which had temporary license plates, took off at high speed and police are ‘actively looking for that vehicle now,'” Taylor said.
Detectives don’t believe it was a random shooting. However, authorities said they are not sure if all the victims were attacked or if some were trapped during the shooting.
“We will be out most of the night trying to figure out who these people are in the vehicle,” Taylor said.
They also said that a large amount of marijuana was found in the place and indicated that there was possibly some type of drug sale at that time.
“It just reminds you how short life is,” Smith said. “Any moment can be taken away, whether you had anything to do with it or not.”
Lakeland police are offering a $5,000 reward along with Heartland Crime Stoppers for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-226-8477 or by visiting the website: http://www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.