Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the early morning hours Sunday, January 30, 2022. Sheriff Grady Judd briefed the media this morning.
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 gun fire. All four individuals in the Toyota were shot. Three are in local hospitals in critical condition (26-year-old black male, 17-year-old Hispanic male, and 20-year-old black male). The front-seat passenger, a 20-year-old black male, is deceased. All are from the Polk County area.
After the shooting, the dark colored vehicle was seen at a local hospital where one person was dropped off. That person was shot and is in critical condition.
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.
You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
“This kind of run-and-gun exchange of gun fire is just not acceptable in Polk County. We are going to hold those responsible for this violence accountable for their actions. If anyone knows anything about this shooting, please call us or call Crime Stoppers.”Grady Judd, Sheriff.
