LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Ten people were injured Monday afternoon in a shooting 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 injuries of the other eight victims were not considered life-threatening. The victims were men between the ages of 20 and 35.
Lakeland is located approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Tampa.
“I’ve been here 34 years and I can tell you I’ve never worked an event where so many people were killed at once,” Taylor said.
A crowd of people had gathered along a residential street when a dark blue sedan drove by, slowing but not stopping, police said. Four people fired from the windows of the sedan before the car sped off, Taylor said.
Officers were investigating the vehicle and the shooters Monday night, officials said.
Taylor said investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack.
Police said marijuana was found at the scene of the shooting and detectives believe drug sales were taking place.
Taylor described the neighborhood as “challenged” and said police have focused a lot of attention on the area in recent years.
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