Lakeland, Florida, became the most recent background for a mass shooting this past Monday evening — resulting in injuries to over ten people, with two of them being labeled as critically so.
As explained in a recent report from CNN, there could have been as many as four suspects opening fire from a dark-blue four-door Nissan which drove up to the scene just before the shooting and quickly sped away directly after it ended.
“The vehicle slowed, did not stop, and the four windows went down. It appeared to be occupied by four shooters in the vehicle,” stated Lakeland Police Department Chief Sam Taylor. “They started firing from all four windows of the vehicle and shooting males on both sides.”
Taylor stated that the police forces think that the shooting was targeted, and highlighted that the blue Nissan was adorned with temporary tags and was the central subject of a currently active search.
“We will be out most of the night trying to figure out who these individuals are in the vehicle,” stated Taylor.
Police officials found a still undisclosed cache of marijuana at the scene of the incident, and Taylor stated that police have been working with the theory that there may have been an illicit sale going on at the time the shooting took place. “Whether that is significant or related to this is unknown.”
As explained in a Monday afternoon press conference, a group of four officers was on the scene just a minute after the first round of calls flooded in to report the shooting taking place — and they were able to find three victims and have them transported to local hospitals. The remaining victims were transported to the hospital in witnesses’ private vehicles after reportedly being hit and afflicted with non-life-threatening injuries.
WATCH:
JUST IN: 10 people wounded in drive-by shooting in Lakeland, Florida, east of Tampa; 4 possible shooters, police believe this was targeted and not random. @livenowfox pic.twitter.com/54dTuGyMm9
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) January 31, 2023
Video surveillance equipment situated at a nearby location and was able to catch audio of the gunfire ringing out as the shooting started late Monday evening.
Exclusive video showing the moment shots rang out in a neighborhood in Lakeland, FL. 10 victims, 2 in critical condition.
Police believe this was drug related – suspects still at large.
“This just doesn’t happen in Lakeland,” the police chief said.
Live at 11 on @wfla. pic.twitter.com/qlzTuMoLVj
— Jack Royer (@JackRoyer) January 31, 2023
Advocates for draconian gun control were quick to not let a good tragedy go to waste as they attempted to attatch the shooting — which police think was in relation to the drug dealing that was supposedly taking place at the scene — to efforts by Republicans situated in the Florida legislature to let residents carry fully concealed weapons without a permit.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) expressed via a social media post, “My heart aches for the victims, families and whole community. America, esp. FLA, endures too many mass shootings. But don’t miss this sick reality: as Lakeland copes w/ this tragedy, @GovRonDeSantis and @TheFLGOP announced plans to put more guns in hands of untrained residents.”
My heart aches for the victims, families and whole community. America, esp. FLA, endures too many mass shootings. But don’t miss this sick reality: as Lakeland copes w/ this tragedy, @GovRonDeSantis and @TheFLGOP announced plans to put more guns in hands of untrained residents. https://t.co/uJXVCMH9Hl
— Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@RepDWStweets) January 31, 2023
“Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. In #Lakeland, children had just exited their school bus nearby before this shooting. Turning #Florida into the Wild West will lead to more death and tragedy. Tell state lawmakers we want safer communities!” tacked on Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL).
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. In #Lakeland, children had just exited their school bus nearby before this shooting.
Turning #Florida into the Wild West will lead to more death and tragedy. Tell state lawmakers we want safer communities! https://t.co/djN1xh7AvC
— US Rep Kathy Castor (@USRepKCastor) January 31, 2023
