Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, "Some of these bullets are entrance holes into this vehicle. Some are exit holes from the vehicle."

“Running Shootout” 20-Year-Old Polk County Man Shot 8 Times And Killed, 3 Others In Critical Condition

POLK COUNTY, FL. – A 20-year-old man was killed, and several others, including teenagers, were injured after a “running shootout” between two cars early Sunday morning in Winter Haven.

The shooting happened around 1:13 a.m. in the area of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and 11th Street NE in unincorporated Winter Haven when individuals driving in a silver Toyota Camry and a dark-colored sedan exchanged gunfire.

All four individuals in the Toyota were shot. Three are in local hospitals in critical condition, a 26-year-old black male, a 17-year-old Hispanic male, and a 20-year-old black male. The front-seat passenger, a 20-year-old black male, is deceased. All are from the Polk County area.

Judd said the suspects were shooting back and forth from their vehicles.

“Here are the bullet holes in the Camry and here’s a close-up. And if you look very close, you’ll see some of these bullets are entrance holes into this vehicle. Some are exit holes from the vehicle, so the suspects were shooting back and forth at each other,” Judd said Sunday.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, "Some of these bullets are entrance holes into this vehicle. Some are exit holes from the vehicle."
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, “Some of these bullets are entrance holes into this vehicle. Some are exit holes from the vehicle.”

The 20-year-old that was shot dead in the Toyota, had an AR-15 strapped around his body and a gun on his waist.

“If you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” said Judd “it was a shootout”.

“Young men aren’t supposed to die and get shot up by other young men and we’re absolutely unequivocally going to investigate this and hold the people that are responsible for this shooting accountable. That’s a guarantee,” Judd said.

Deputies are looking for a dark-colored sedan with bullet holes and needs the communities help.

At this time, no identities have been released as deputies determined who were the victims and who were the suspects.

Anyone who has information about this shooting is encouraged to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200 or Crime Stoppers. If you wish to remain anonymous, or if you would like to receive a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers:

* Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)

* From your cell phone, dial **TIPS

* Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”

* Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.

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