Late Friday night, a man in his late 20s was found outside a home in Haines City's Charles Cove subdivision with multiple gunshot wounds and later died at a nearby hospital. Officers and EMS tried to save his life at the scene while detectives with the Haines City Police Department launched an active investigation. According to police, the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and there is no immediate threat to the wider community.
Shortly before midnight, officers were called out after multiple reports of gunfire and found the victim outside a residence, according to Tampa Bay 28. The outlet reported that the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and that no suspects were in custody at the time of its report.
Police Say Case Appears Isolated As Probe Ramps Up
In a news release summarized by the Lakeland Ledger, police said officers arrived around 11:48 p.m. and found the victim outside a home in the Charles Cove neighborhood, which sits off Massee Road west of U.S. 27 near AdventHealth Heart of Florida Hospital. The release said the victim's name is being withheld until his family can be notified, while detectives canvass the area and work to identify witnesses.
How To Share Information With Investigators
According to the Haines City Police Department, anyone with information is urged to call 863-421-3636 or use the department's tip line. Officials said detectives are going door to door in the neighborhood and pursuing leads.
Community Context
Charles Cove is a growing subdivision near U.S. 27 and Massee Road that has drawn new construction and families in recent years. Haines City has also faced other violent incidents in recent months, including an officer-involved shooting in October 2025 that local outlets covered as a sign of ongoing policing challenges in the area, according to WESH.
