Lady Lake Police are in pursuit of a man believed to have opened fire at a busy basketball court. The incident, which occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. at an athletic complex located at 221 W. Guava Street, unfolded amidst a disturbance where the man then retrieved a firearm from his white four-door sedan and discharged it towards individuals nearby, officials detailed, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
The search for the suspect, a light-skinned Black male sporting locs and a distinctive red tattoo behind his ear, was joined by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Fruitland Park officers, intensifying the effort to locate both him and his vehicle after his abrupt departure from the scene, ClickOrlando reports. Authorities stress that despite no reported injuries, establishing the whereabouts of the suspect remains a priority for the community's safety.
"Hundreds of people — including youth sports teams, families, and seniors — enjoy our athletic fields and parks every week without issue," Police Chief Steve Hunt said in a statement, as per ClickOrlando. underlining the rarity of such violent incidents in these public spaces. Hunt emphasized the department's commitment to maintaining safety, "Lady Lake police will continue to work to ensure our parks remain safe for everyone."
Members of the community with any insights or knowledge regarding the shooting, or the whereabouts of the suspect, are strongly encouraged to come forward and contact Lady Lake Police Detective Jim Dunagan at 352-751-1565 or through email at [email protected].
