Motorcycle Gang Shootout On I-4 Critically Injures Passenger: Cop

POLK COUNTY, FL — A motorcycle gang shootout along Interstate-4 severely injured a 33-year-old woman who has barely been hanging on to life since being thrown off a bike when a bullet struck her just above the ear, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Ronald Donovan, 38, who is a member of Sin City Deciples Motorcycle Club, drove his bike eastbound in Polk County toward Orlando just after midnight Friday, investigators said. A 33-year-old woman rode on the back as his passenger. Donovan got upset when two motorcyclists in the Thug Riders Motorcycle Club passed him on I-4, according to Judd. Donovan is accused of shooting at the opposing motorcycle gang members.

One of the bullets hit a 36-year-old man, who shot back at Donovan in self-defense, Judd said. That is when the bullet hit the woman in the head just above the ear, and she fell off the motorcycle.

In a news conference Friday, Judd compared the shooting incident to a western.

“They took an 1888 old western shootout and brought it to 2021 last night,” he said. “You had a rush of testosterone and a rush of idiocy and it ended up with… near death.”

The motorcyclist who had been injured stopped at a Papa John's and called 9-1-1, detectives said. Deputies found two empty gun holsters on the suspect, but no guns. A motorcyclist was also seen speeding away from the area.

Donovan pleaded the Fifth Amendment to investigators when they asked him about the incident.

According to Judd, Donovan faces the following charges:

Donovan was arrested on scene and has been charged with the following:

• Attempted felony murder
• Attempted first degree murder
• Resisting arrest
• Battery on a law enforcement officer

Judd had a message for both motorcycle gangs involved in this incident:

“Let me warn you, retaliation will get you all locked up in prison for a very long time and that’s a guarantee in Polk County,” he said. “Your stupidness has already gotten a 33-year-old beautiful young lady in a near-death situation and another man shot.”

Authorities said they do not expect the woman to survive.