Car In Drive-By Shooting Of 11 Men Found, $5K Reward: Lakeland Police

LAKELAND, FL — After working throughout the night, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said detectives believe they have the car involved in Monday night's mass shooting and have identified several suspects, although they have made no arrests.

(A Ring camera video of the car that carried the shooters was released by police and is at the bottom of this story.)

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Taylor said the number of people shot now stands at 11 after another man with injuries went to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment. Police found marijuana at the scene in a quantity that indicated a drug deal was taking place and believe the victims were targeted.

All of those who were shot are men between the ages of 20 to 35. Three were taken by ambulance to the hospital and the rest were driven by car. Taylor said nine of the men are expected to be released from the hospital later Tuesday and will be interviewed by detectives.

The two most seriously injured are a man who suffered a gunshot to the abdomen and underwent surgery Monday night, and a man who was shot in the jaw and was transferred to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.

According to police, the 11 men who were shot were gathered outside an apartment complex near Iowa Avenue North and Plum Street at 3:43 p.m. when a dark blue Nissan Altima four-door car with dark-tinted windows and temporary tags slowed down. The four occupants of the car rolled down the windows and at least two of them began shooting at the men, Taylor said.

The car then sped away north on Iowa Avenue and east on Memorial Boulevard. A patrol officer spotted the car Tuesday morning in a neighborhood in East Lakeland. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered to help the police department process evidence from the car as well as evidence at the scene, Taylor said.

He added that the car is registered and detectives will question its owner.

Related: 10 Hurt In Lakeland Mass Shooting; Police Suspect Link To Drug Sales

Taylor said a large number of bullet casings at the scene indicated that a great deal of gunfire occurred, but he said he doesn't know if the men at the apartment complex were able to shoot back.

Police found no guns at the scene, but he said they found guns inside the cars of several of those with minor gunshot wounds who drove themselves to the hospital.

During a news conference Monday night, Taylor expressed dismay that a crime of this magnitude had occurred in Lakeland.

"This doesn't happen here," Taylor said. "I'll be starting my 35th year on Feb. 1 and I've never seen anything like this before. This is a small town. I've never seen this many shot ever."

Detectives have obtained a copy of a Ring video of the shooting that Taylor released to the media. He said the department has also received a number of tips from residents in the area.

In partnership with Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida, a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to the identification and arrest of those involved.

To remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida:

• Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)
• From your cell phone, dial **TIPS
• Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on "Submit A Tip,"
• Or download the free "P3tips" app on your smartphone or tablet.

Tipsters will always remain anonymous when sending a tip through Crime Stoppers.