Monday afternoon in Lakeland, Florida, ten people were injured in a drive-by shooting in what police call a ‘targeted attack’.
According to the local police chief, Sam Taylor, two of the victims have critical injuries, while the other eight have wounds that are not life-threatening.
The victims had all been males ranging from age twenty and thirty-five. Chief Taylor commented, “I’ve been here 34 years, and I can tell you I have never worked an event where this many people were shot at one time, ever.”
Witnesses reported that a dark-blue sedan had driven by the area, slowing but not stopping. Shots were fired from the four car windows before the car fled the scene, and Taylor stated that four people were firing the shots.
Police are currently searching for the car and its occupants. Chief Taylor stated that the shooting appeared to have been a targeted attack and that marijuana substance was found at the scene of the shooting, leading investigators to believe that drug deals were taking place.
He also commented that the neighborhood had “challenged” areas and that the police had been focusing their attention on it in recent years. But even with its challenging areas, Taylor emphasized, “This is something that doesn’t happen in Lakeland.”
Taylor added, “We will be out most of the night trying to figure out who these individuals are in the vehicle.”
Police will continue their investigations and search of the individuals and vehicle responsible.