2 dead after car crashes into Polk County home; sheriff links incident to possible drug deal
2 killed in Polk County after shooting, car crash
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefs the public regarding two fatalities on Pirates Way in Lakeland, where a vehicle crashed into a house.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A 38-year-old man riding an electric bicycle in a Lakeland area neighborhood was killed after being struck by a vehicle that subsequently crashed into a home, authorities said. Both the driver and the bicyclist were pronounced dead at the scene and now, the Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating the deaths as a "double-homicide."
What we know:
A 38-year-old man riding an electric bicycle was killed when a white Mercedes-AMG, driven by a teenager, struck him in a Lakeland neighborhood and crashed into a home.
Both the cyclist and the teenage driver were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office are treating the case as a double homicide.
Sheriff Grady Judd confirmed that the driver of the Mercedes had been shot in what’s believed to be a drug-related robbery attempt. The vehicle then sped off, striking the bicyclist and crashing into a home on Pirates Way in the Secret Cove subdivision.
Deputies and fire services arrived to find the car lodged inside the home. Emergency responders pulled the driver from the vehicle and attempted life-saving measures before discovering a gunshot wound to his chest. The cyclist’s body was later discovered beneath the vehicle.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the identities of either the deceased bicyclist or the teenage driver. It's also unclear who fired the shot that killed the driver or how many individuals were directly involved in the suspected drug deal.
Law enforcement officials have not provided a full account of how the encounter unfolded prior to the shooting. The roles of others believed to be present — many described as teenagers — remain undetermined, and investigators have yet to announce any arrests.
The backstory:
According to Sheriff Judd, the teenage driver came to the neighborhood around 1:30 p.m. on May 12 to sell marijuana. Judd said the driver may have been ambushed or "ripped off" in a drug deal gone wrong.
Following the shooting, the wounded driver attempted to flee, only to fatally strike the bicyclist and crash into a home.
A search of the vehicle revealed two gallon-sized bags of marijuana and a "thick wad of cash," which authorities say supports the theory of an illicit drug transaction.
What they're saying:
Deputies arrived with fire services to discover the vehicle completely inside the home. They rushed in to pull the driver out of the vehicle to perform life-saving measures when they discovered he had a gunshot wound to the chest.
"It goes from a fatal vehicle crash to a murder investigation, and then during this timeframe, the people discover there's another deceased person under the car," Sheriff Judd explained.
Investigators determined that the second victim was on an electric bike when he was struck by the Mercedes. The vehicle forced the cyclist into the home, where he was found deceased beneath the car. No other injuries inside the residence were reported.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the cyclist, who had no involvement in the preceding events, was heading to his brother’s nearby apartment when he was hit by a white Mercedes.
"The gentleman riding the electric bicycle — at this early stage of the investigation — appears to have absolutely no involvement in this event. He was just so unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Sheriff Judd said. "So it's very sad to me that a man just minding his business, riding his electric bicycle is murdered, and he's murdered as a result of the initial conduct where our suspect/suspect of a potential dope deal/victim was shot. And obviously, by this time he was trying to get away, and by the time he got to the end of the street, he was out of it. But whoever started that and shot our suspect/victim is ultimately responsible for the death of this other gentleman."
The sheriff linked the shooting to a possible drug-related incident.
"We discovered there's at least two gallon bags of marijuana in the white Mercedes as well as a thick wad of cash. Now for those of you who want to think that marijuana is low-level and non-violent, you're just absolutely totally out of your mind," Judd said.
Judd said investigators are reviewing video obtained from the neighborhood.
"We have video, and I want to make it abundantly clear to those that were there — we have your picture. It's important 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 trigger man. We know that the others were involved. So once again, you decide."
What's next:
Authorities continue to search for the person who shot the driver of the Mercedes and any additional witnesses. They are also reviewing video of the incident, Sheriff Judd said.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.