Lakeland Police Information Release
On Sunday, May 8, 2022, Lakeland Police responded to the Circle K at 1410 Florida Avenue North at approximately 4:40 p.m. for a reported carjacking. According to initial reports, a female victim had parked her 2014 Chevy Impala in front of the convenience store. She went into the store, leaving her vehicle running and unlocked. At some point, 25-year-old John Quinonescora, who was outside the store entrance on a bicycle, entered the passenger side of the vehicle and began climbing over to the driver’s side. The victim (also the owner of the vehicle) ran to the car in an attempt to stop Quinonescora. As the suspect backed the vehicle out of the parking lot to flee, the victim was struck by the open driver’s door. A child under the age of 10 was in the back seat of the car but was able to exit the vehicle prior to it leaving the location.
A few minutes later, an officer spotted the stolen vehicle on Socrum Loop Road North. Quinonescora ignored commands to pull over and continued to flee until the car came to rest in loose sand on the east side of Grady Mock Road. The suspect immediately fled on foot but was taken into custody a short distance later by a pursuing officer.
No serious injuries were reported. The victim did sustain an injury to her arm and was treated at the scene. She was later able to identify Quinonescora as the person who stole her vehicle.
John Quinonescora / DOB: 01-10-1997 / No known local address / from NYC
Quinonescora was arrested and charged with the following:
Carjacking without a firearm/weapon (F1)
Aggravated Battery of Person (F2)
Fleeing and Attempting to Elude at Reckless-High Rate of Speed (F2)
Resisting Officer Without Violence (M1)
