A shooting in broad daylight involving several different cars near the Interstate 10 exit ramp to Thomasville Road left two people injured Oct. 3 and caused gridlock and concern on the north side of town.
Shonda Knight, spokeswoman for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, said the shooting happened around 5:23 p.m.
“Three vehicles were struck, and two people in separate vehicles were struck,” she said. “At least one of those two was seriously injured.”
She said the more seriously injured victim was being life-flighted to Shands in Gainesville from the scene and that the other was being treated at a local hospital.
The victims were an adult Black man and a White woman, Knight said, adding one of the individuals was “targeted” and the other was hit by a stray bullet. Everyone involved in the incident was inside a vehicle.
“The suspect fled southbound on Thomasville,” she said, “and the suspect is still at large. But LCSO is actively investigating the incident.”
Undersheriff Ron Cave said in a video update at about 9:10 p.m. that while the suspect is at-large, “we do not believe this shooting was random… We do believe this was a targeted shooting.”
“We’ll be continuing to pursue any and all active leads and information,” he said. “And we’re asking anybody in the community that may have seen the incidents that happened … this evening to please contact the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible with the information that you have.”
If you have information, call LCSO 850-606-5800.
At 3:30 a.m. Saturday, about 10 hours after the shooting on an I-10 exit ramp injured two, Cave announced in a 48-second video update that the Leon County Sheriff’s Office had executed two search warrants and has a “person of interest we are actively talking to.”
It was not clear where the search warrants had been served. A large contingent of law enforcement and flashing lights can be seen in the video behind Cave, who is wearing what appears to be a bulletproof vest.
He provided no other details about the suspect or condition of the victims.
Knight said Saturday morning that the “person of interest” is not in custody.
“We are making great progress,” she said, adding that she can’t provide further information about potential suspects or the open and active investigation.
How the shooting incident unfolded
Hours earlier, LCSO spokesperson Javonni Hampton said the multi-agency Real Time Crime Center was involved in trying to find the suspect.
“We have the Real Time Crime Center tracking all highway cameras,” she said.
After the initial call came in, ambulances, the Florida Highway Patrol and Leon County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the scene. Investigators shut down the Exit 203 ramp.
FHP Master Corp. Patricia A. Jefferson-Shaw also confirmed a possible shooting took place.
“It was some type of shooting call, and a vehicle has fled the scene,” she said, adding that LCSO was leading the investigation.
Traffic was flowing in both direction on I-10, though the Thomasville Road ramp remained closed. A half dozen or more LCSO vehicles are on the scene. Deputies could be seen looking around the area with flashlights and talking to people who may have been eyewitnesses.
A pickup truck pulling a boat on a trailer can be seen parked on the shoulder of I-10 eastbound near the crime scene. Deputies were seen parked behind the truck with their lights on.
The state 511 website classified it as a “major” incident.
“Police activity in Leon County on I-10 East, ramp to Exit 203 (SR-61/US-319/Thomasville Rd/Capital Cir). All lanes blocked. Last updated at 06:46 PM. Road Ranger Ahead. Move Over or Slow Down.”
At about 7:05 p.m., LCSO posted a Public Safety Alert: “The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is working a shooting at I-10 Eastbound Exit 203. There are two confirmed victims. Suspect is at large. Avoid the area.”
For the latest traffic information and webcam views, see our Tallahassee Gridlock Guide at https://data.tallahassee.com/tallahassee-gridlock-guide/
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: I-10 shooting: One victim ‘targeted,’ one hit by stray bullet as suspect search continues
Reporting by William L. Hatfield, Jeff Burlew and Alicia Devine, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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