A dispute outside a downtown Avon Park bar last Thursday ended with a 24-year-old man stabbed and 34-year-old David J. Lozano in handcuffs, according to authorities. The confrontation unfolded in front of Room 111 on West Main Street, and the wounded man was taken to a regional hospital for treatment. Investigators later concluded the stabbing was not an act of self-defense.
According to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, Lozano was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder in connection with the stabbing outside Room 111 at 901 W. Main St. in Avon Park, as reported by Tampa Bay 28. Deputies said the two men had been involved in an ongoing dispute before things turned violent outside the bar.
What investigators say
Per the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, detectives said they received conflicting witness statements, and evidence at the scene led them to rule out any claim of self-defense. The sheriff’s office also confirmed the 24-year-old victim was treated at a regional hospital after the stabbing.
Charges and custody
Lozano, 34, was booked into the Highlands County Jail on an attempted murder charge, and authorities have not yet released information about bond or a court date. The arrest and booking were reported by Tampa Bay 28, which sourced the sheriff’s office.
How to help
Detectives ask that anyone with information call the Highlands County Sheriff's non-emergency line at 863-402-7200, email [email protected], or submit tips through the HCSO app or Heartland Crime Stoppers. Per the sheriff's office, tips can be submitted anonymously and may be eligible for a reward, and investigators are urging anyone who knows more about what happened outside Room 111 to come forward.
