Fight At Lakeland McDonald's Lead To Shooting; Woman Seriously Injured

LAKELAND, FL — Lakeland police have charged a 28-year-old man with two counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection to a shooting that took place Sunday morning at a McDonald's restaurant.

According to Lakeland police, at 2:58 a.m., officers were call to the McDonald's at 5325 Frontage Road for a fight between two men in the drive-thru lane. While on route, the dispatcher told officers that shots had been fired.

When they arrived, officers found a minivan in the road directly in front of the restaurant. Inside the minivan was a 28-year-old woman who had been shot multiple times and a 34-year-old man who was rendering aid.

The woman was taken to Lakeland Regional Health with serious injuries. The man caring for her declined medical treatment at the scene for a minor injury.

Officers were told that, prior to the shooting, the victims were in the drive-thru line waiting for their order, which had been delayed due to an error. Calvin Jordan Sousa, in line behind the victims, became upset and began honking his horn and yelling. Both the male victim and Sousa got out of their vehicles and began fighting. After a brief fight, both returned to their vehicles. As the vehicles began to leave the parking lot, police said Sousa pulled up to the passenger side of the victims' minivan and fired multiple shots into the minivan.

The shooter fled the scene, but witnesses identified Sousa and police traced him to his home in Highland City.

With the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Lakeland police tried to make contact with Sousa, but he barricaded himself inside and initially refused to come out, according to police.

Eventually, Sousa walked out of the house and was taken into custody.

In addition to the two attempted first-degree murder charges, Sousa is charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and improper exhibit of a firearm.