Arrest Made In Lakeland Assassination-Style Murder

LAKELAND, FL -- A family friend who rode out Hurricane Irma with a 32-year-old man has now been accused of killing that man and seriously wounding the man's father earlier this month during an assassination-style attack in which 20 to 30 rounds were fired in under six seconds, according to Lakeland police.

Twenty-eight-year-old Juan Alejandro Vargas-Diaz of Miami-Dade County has been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied business.

"It was an intentional assassination," declared Capt. Sammy Taylor of the Lakeland Police Department in announcing the arrest of Vargas-Diaz in connection with the Feb. 15 attack on Steven Schelmety and his father. The incident occurred at 11:35 p.m. at Artillery Motor Sports, 3609 Century Boulevard.

"He did have a relationship with the victim. We were able to determine that in 2017 he and his family were taken in by the victims during hurricane Irma and they allowed them a place to stay in 2017 to ride out the hurricane," Taylor said of Vargas-Diaz. "For whatever reason, that's the only relationship we've been able to find so far."

Taylor said investigators tracked a 2018 Toyota Tacoma to a Ford dealership where Vargas-Diaz worked in the Homestead area of Miami-Dade County.

The case has been puzzling to investigators. "We're still trying to figure out ... what motivates someone to drive four hours from Miami, commit a homicide and then drive four hours back," said Taylor.

Police said Schelmety's father, who is in his 70s, has been in the hospital since the attack but was due to be released this week.

Taylor said Vargas-Diaz has not made a statement to police.

Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia praised the investigative efforts of his team.

"They worked tirelessly non stop for a week to try to bring this suspect to justice and they have," said Garcia.

To report a tip, call Detective Tim McDonald at (863) 834-8955 or contact him via email at tim.mcdonald@lakelandgov.net. Alternatively, call Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida at 800-226-TIPS, visit www.P3tips.com or submit your tip through the free "P3tips" mobile app.