LAKELAND, Fla. – What initially appeared to be a tragic fatal vehicle crash on Pirates Way has quickly escalated into a double homicide investigation, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced during a press conference Monday.
The incident, which occurred around 1:30 PM today, resulted in the deaths of two individuals after a white Mercedes AMG crashed into a residential structure.
According to Sheriff Judd, the incident began when a white Mercedes AMG, driven by a young black male, pulled into the Secret Cove area. Several other young black males approached the vehicle. After a period of talking, the white car “raced off down Pirate’s way, extremely fast for the neighborhood and the conditions,” and drove directly into a house, apartment, or home.
The first notification to the Sheriff’s Office came from Mercedes emergency services reporting a vehicle crash. However, upon arrival, deputies and fire services discovered the vehicle was completely inside the home. As they worked to extract the driver and render aid, they discovered he had a bullet hole in his chest.
“And then it goes from a fatal vehicle crash to a murder investigation,” Sheriff Judd stated.
During the same timeframe, emergency personnel made a second grim discovery: another deceased person was found underneath the crashed vehicle. This second victim was identified as a 38-year-old man who was riding his electric-powered bicycle. Investigators believe the Mercedes, already out of control after the driver was shot, struck the bicyclist and pushed him into the home, killing him instantly.
Judd stressed that, at this early stage, the bicyclist appears to have had absolutely no involvement in the initial altercation. “He was just so unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Judd said, noting the victim was on his way to his brother’s house, located next door to the damaged residence. “It’s very sad to me that a man just minding his business, riding his electric bicycle, is murdered.”
Inside the crashed Mercedes, investigators found at least two gallon bags of marijuana and a thick wad of cash. The deceased driver of the Mercedes reportedly had a tattoo of the famous Scarface movie quote, “The world is yours,” on his chest and “Life is a gamble” tattooed on one of his hands.
“I’m still surprised at the people that will tell you that marijuana is low-level and non-violent,” Sheriff Judd remarked. “I’ve got the families of two people this afternoon that will tell you the opposite.”
Based on the initial evidence, detectives suspect the Mercedes driver came to the area to sell marijuana, and the individuals who approached him planned to rob him, leading to the fatal shooting. Authorities have obtained video evidence showing the individuals who approached the Mercedes.
Judd issued a direct plea to those individuals: “I want to make it abundantly clear to those that were there, we have your picture. It’s important that you understand you can be a suspect, or you can be a witness. You can be a suspect, or you can be a witness. We know that one person was the triggerman. We know that the others were involved.” He urged them to come forward and cooperate with the investigation.
The deceased driver of the Mercedes has been removed from the scene, while the second victim remains as the scene is processed for further evidence. Fortunately, no one was inside the home when the vehicle crashed into it, narrowly avoiding further casualties.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is scheduled to hold a media briefing this evening regarding a tragic incident on Pirates Way in Lakeland that resulted in two fatalities.
Deputies have confirmed that the incident involved a vehicle crashing into a house on Pirates Way. Details regarding the circumstances of the crash, the identities of the deceased, and whether the fatalities were occupants of the vehicle or the residence are limited at this time.
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Sheriff Judd is expected to provide further information on the ongoing investigation during the 5 PM briefing.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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