Bullets Injure 2 Children, Teen During 2 Drive-By Shootings In Polk

LAKE WALES, FL — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said members of two families can perilously close to being critically injured or killed by a barrage of bullets during two drive-by shootings that took place 17 minutes apart.

During a news conference, Grady said detectives are vigorously investigating the two drive-by shootings in unincorporated Lake Wales on early Monday that injured two children and a 19-year-old woman.

According to Judd, at 2:52 a.m. deputies responded to a drive-by shooting in the Highland Park Manor subdivision. The shooters used two different firearms to shoot at a home in the subdivision. Fifty-nine ammunition casings were recovered, 30 of which struck the home, injuring a 19-year-old woman who was asleep in a bedroom. She was taken to the hospital for treatment for wounds that are not life-threatening. Detectives believe the home was targeted.

Seventeen minutes later, at 3:09 a.m., Judd said deputies responded to a home in the Lake Pierce Ranchettes subdivision where two girls, ages 14 and 12 years old, were injured.

Judd said detectives believe three people with firearms drove into the neighborhood, got out of a vehicle and shot at the home. Thirty-seven ammunition casings were found of which 27 struck the house, most striking the bedrooms.

The 14-year-old girl was struck in the thigh and buttocks. The 12-year-old was shot in the arm, he said.

Both were taken to the hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released.

Judd said detectives believe the shooters targeted the wrong house in the subdivision. He said detectives believe the shootings are related to another shooting over the summer that was investigated by the Lake Wales police.

"These thugs won't be happy until they are all in prison, and we need the public's help to accommodate these worthless, violent criminals," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Please, if
you have any information about either of these shootings, contact Heartland Crimestoppers and you will be eligible for a cash reward of $3,000."