Florida: Ten people were injured in a drive-by shooting Monday afternoon in a central Florida neighborhood, police said. Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said during a news conference that two of the victims were seriously injured, while the other eight victims’ wounds were not believed to be life-threatening. Lakeland is located approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Tampa.
Taylor said, “I’ve been here 34 years and I can tell you I’ve never worked on an event where so many people were shot at once.” Police said a crowd of people had gathered in a residential street when a dark blue palanquin rolled down. The miscreants opened fire through the windows before the car fled. Officials said officers were actively searching for the vehicle and assailants on Monday night.
Taylor said investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack. Police said marijuana was found at the scene of the shooting, and investigators believe the drug was being sold. Taylor described the neighborhood as challenging and said police have focused a lot on the area in recent years.