10 injured in Lakeland, Florida drive-by shooting: Police

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Jan 18:18

Police chief Sam Taylor says people opened fire from both sides of a car, leaving several injured.

Lakeland Police chief Sam Taylor shows a photo of the car where the gunmen shot from, on Jan. 30, 2023. (TVU 13)

Ten people were injured, including two in critical condition, in a drive-by shooting in Lakeland, Florida, street Monday, police confirmed.

Police chief Sam Taylor said the shooting happened around 3:43 pm when people opened fire from both sides of a dark blue Nissan sedan.

"We have reason to believe this was a targeted event, that it was not a random act," Taylor pointed out at a news conference, adding, "We think that the individuals in the car shot at and shot who they wanted to shoot."

According to the police chief, two people were in critical condition — one of whom had been shot in the abdomen, and the other had been shot in the face and jaw area, noting that the eight others had non-life-threatening injuries.

Taylor said those injured were described as men aged between 20 to 35, adding that a motive for the shooting was under investigation.