HAINES CITY, Fla. (AP) — A 72-year-old woman and her daughter are dead, three men are in custody and one suspect remained at large Friday morning following a crime spree in central Florida.
The Polk County Sheriff’s office says the remaining suspect is considered dangerous. During a late night news conference, Sheriff Grady Judd warned residents to stay in their homes. He said law enforcement officers would be knocking on doors in the area to check on residents and urged people to call 911 if they witness any suspicious activity.
“Don’t start shooting through your front door,” Judd said. “That’ wouldn’t be good.”
The incident began Thursday evening with a robbery at an Auburndale pawn shop. Witnesses reported that three men wearing hoodies robbed the store while one man waited outside in a red GMC Jimmy.
An officer in nearby Haines City spotted the vehicle and attempted to pull it over. Judd said the officer was pursuing when the suspects started firing at his patrol car from their SUV. The officer was not injured.
The vehicle eventually became stuck in some sand and all four men ran. Authorities caught up with Devonere “Devon” McCune, 22, when he was bitten by a Sheriff’s Office K-9.
A short time later, officers learned from a resident about suspicious activity at a neighbor’s house.
When authorities surrounded the house, a blue car came barreling out of the garage, straight at them. Judd said officers fired “many times.” The vehicle went a short distance before it also got stuck in sand. Michael Gordon, 34, who was arrested, was the only person in the car. He suffered gunshot wounds and bites from a K-9. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Officers found the bodies of Patricia Moran, 72, and Deborah Royal, 51, inside the house.
Later Friday morning, authorities arrested Jovan Lamb, 29.
All three men who have been arrested face multiple charges.
An investigation continues as authorities search for the remaining suspect, identified by Judd as Terrell Williams, 29, of Haines City.
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“Don’t start shooting through your front door,” Judd said. “That’ wouldn’t be good.”
That was funny, well said. If a guy breaks in your front door, THEN you explore the option to shoot obviously.
As to the last punk, hope he is nailed soon without him killing more people.
But if the home owner is a “good guy” with a gun and the police are considered, in most cases, “good guys with guns” then nothing will go wrong will it. Only when one of the people is a “bad guy with a gun” then everyone is vindicated. It all makes perfect sense.
Even the TX legislators only need panic buttons, if it was really a “gun” issue then they would arm the legislators and their staff.
FYI, Texas legislators and staff can already be armed if they want to be. Visitors, too. You just need a conceal carry permit.
Then why do they need to go to the expense of “panic buttons”? They are so sure of themselves and the “good guys” with guns why would they panic?