Lakeland police believe 4 suspects involved in drive-by shooting that wounded 11

Four suspects still on the loose after Lakeland drive by shooting

Ken Suarez reports.

LAKELAND, Fla. - The police chief of Lakeland said one more person showed up at a hospital after Monday's drive-by shooting, bringing the total number of victims to 11.

Officers believe they found the vehicle that was seen on surveillance video driving by when gunshots rang out, but they're still searching for the four suspects who were inside.

The shooting happened along North Iowa Avenue near Plum Street around 3:45 p.m. Monday.

Officers got there within one minute after receiving multiple 911 calls, the chief explained.

Full press conference: Lakeland police update on shooting that left 11 injured

Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor says investigators have recovered the suspect vehicle in Monday's drive-by shooting that left 11 people injured.

Suspect vehicle located after shooting

Chief Sam Taylor said a dark blue four-door Nissan Altima – which had a temporary tag – was seen slowing near the shooting scene, with the windows rolled down. Investigators say they believe four people were inside the vehicle, but two were shooting.

Officers said the vehicle was seen speeding off after shots rang out.

Raw surveillance video: Lakeland drive-by shooting injured 11

The Lakeland Police Department provided surveillance video from a Ring camera where a shooter opened fire from a vehicle, injuring 11 people Monday.

"We have a high level of confidence that this is the vehicle we were looking for," Taylor said during Tuesday's press conference. "We have some very promising leads."

The police chief didn't specify where exactly investigators found the Altima, but said it was located in the west Lakeland area.

Now that they have the car, they're looking for the people who were inside.

Victims rushed to hospitals

Three victims were found at the scene when officers arrived and were all taken to the hospital.

Bystanders used their own vehicles to take several others to nearby hospitals.

The 11th victim walked into Lakeland Regional Hospital Monday evening. All of the victims were male.

Nine victims were expected to be released from the hospital sometime Tuesday. Two others who were critically injured in the shooting will remain hospitalized, the police chief said.

One victim who was shot in the abdomen underwent surgery Monday night.

Another was shot in the face and has since been taken to Tampa General Hospital.

Police, neighbors search for answers

Chief Taylor said in his three decades with the agency, he has never worked a case like this.

"This doesn't happen in Lakeland," Chief Taylor said. "I've been here 34 years, and I can tell you I have never worked an event where this many people have been shot at one time, ever."

Aerial view of drive-by shooting scene on North Iowa Avenue near Plum Street

Investigators do not believe the shooting was random. However, police said they are not sure if all victims were targeted or if some may have been caught in the crossfire.

Taylor said about 25 officers and 15 detectives responded to the shooting.

Tina Smith, who lives in the neighborhood, shared home security footage with FOX 13, saying her children just got off the school bus before bullets started flying. In the 30-second clip, shots were heard.

"Get in the house," she said in the video. "I'll call for help."

Multiple shots heard in Lakeland neighborhood surveillance video

Tina Smith shared her home surveillance video, capturing the moment after children exited a school bus and when the drive-by shooting occurred in her Lakeland neighborhood.

"It just reminds you how short life is," Smith said. "Any moment can be taken from you whether you have anything to do with it or not."

Police said they found a large amount of marijuana at the scene and indicated there was possibly some type of drug sale at the time.