10 injured in drive-by shooting in Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. – Ten people were injured in a drive-by shooting in a central Florida neighborhood Monday afternoon, police said.

Lakeland Police Commissioner Sam Taylor said during a press conference that two of the victims received life-threatening injuries, while the wounds of the other eight victims were not considered life-threatening. The victims were men between the ages of 20 and 35.

Lakeland is about 50 kilometers east of Tampa.

“I’ve been here 34 years and I can tell you I’ve never worked at an event where so many people were shot at once,” Taylor said.

A crowd had gathered along a residential street when a dark blue sedan rolled past and slowed but did not stop, police said. Four people fired shots from the limo’s windows before the car sped away, Taylor said.

Officers were searching for the vehicle and the shooter Monday night, officials said.

Taylor said investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack.

Police said marijuana was found at the scene, and investigators believe drug sales took place.

Describing the neighborhood as “challenged,” Taylor said police have paid a lot of attention to the area in recent years.