[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake Legal News]
[Original Publish Date: 08/14/20]
EUSTIS, Florida — Two local law enforcement agencies are investigating three separate shootings that occurred in just over 24 hours this week.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday, Eustis Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2000 block of Bates Avenue, said Eustis Police Public Information Officer J. Allred. The complainant said they heard several shots and saw five to six black males running west, Allred told Lake Legal News.
“They (police) only found a couple of rounds,” Allred said. No one was injured in that shooting.
Tavares Police are investigating a shooting that occurred in their city around 9:15 p.m. Thursday after receiving multiple reports of gunshots fired near Colonial Pines Apartments, 895 Mansfield Road, Tavares. TPD and Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the area and found 9mm shell casings near Mansfield Road and Hibiscus Court, according to a report. A fully loaded 9mm handgun was also found close to the shell casings, but likely was not fired in that shooting because it was fully loaded, it was noted in the report. A dark-colored truck was captured on video surveillance at the time of the shooting. No one was injured.
Less than 30 minutes after the report of the shooting, TPD responded to a battery involving a large crowd reported on Mulberry Lane, when they were flagged down by a citizen who said the crowd moved to the intersection of Cedar Circle and Cedar Lane, according to a report. A TPD officer found multiple vehicles in that area but they fled the scene, the report states.
A witness told police a large group of females were in the front yard of a home on Cedar Circle when a man who lives there pulled a gun on the crowd. Police spoke to the man who said multiple vehicles and people “flooded the area” including in front of his home, the report states. He said he did not know why they were there and felt he needed protect himself, so he displayed the gun.
While TPD was investigating, LCSO deputies attempted to pull over a dark blue sedan but it fled and drove towards officers on scene, but they were able to move out of harm’s way, according to the report.
“It appears the two cases are related,” TPD Lt. Sarah Coursey told LLN Friday,
Around 1:30 a.m. Friday, EPD responded to the same house in the 2000 block of Bates Avenue in reference to another shooting. A man in a vehicle was shot once in the leg and transported to AdventHealth Waterman, Eustis Police Cpl. Lauren Brown told LLN.
“It appears the vehicle was the target,” Brown said.
A neighboring home was also struck with at least two bullets. Dozens of evidence markers littered Bates Avenue near the corner of Cardinal Street just a few blocks from the Eustis High School Curtright Campus.
It is early in the investigations and unclear if the Eustis cases are related to the Tavares cases. If you have information on any of these cases, call EPD at 352-357-4121 or TPD at 352-742-6200.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
