POLK COUNTY, FL. – 29-year-old Michael Shane Denn of Lakeland is behind bars Tuesday after a shooting that left one dead Monday night.
On Monday at approximately 6:15 pm, Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to 1330 Virginia St., Mulberry FL, in reference to a shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies located a victim lying in the front yard of a business, Strapped Transport Towing and Recovery, with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Officials say a second victim was located lying in the front yard of the same business, with apparent injuries from being struck by a vehicle.
Both victims were transported to Lakeland Regional Health by Polk County Fire Rescue. Medical staff at Lakeland Regional Health pronounced dead around 7 pm.
The second victim is currently being treated at Lakeland Regional Health and is in stable condition.
Investigation revealed the man who was killed went to Strapped Transport Towing and Recovery to obtain his vehicle that had been impounded the previous day. While completing the process of retrieving his vehicle, the man was advised by staff that he would have to stand by for the tow truck to arrive back at the business to pull his vehicle out of the impound lot.
When the owner of the towing yard, Michael Shane Denn, arrived at the business with the tow truck, he requested the victim wait for his impounded vehicle off of the business property.
Deputies say a verbal argument ensued between the victim, Denn, and another man. The man removed his vehicle, that was driven to the business, from the business property by backing his vehicle into the roadway
Once the man was in the roadway, the second man, whose name has been redacted from reports, approached the driver’s window and began punching the man in the face.
Deputies say when the man would attempt to exit his vehicle, the suspect would shut the driver’s door preventing him from exiting his vehicle and continue punching him.
The man put his vehicle in gear and drove down the roadway to get away from the suspect. Once down the road, the man turned his vehicle around and accelerated his vehicle towards the man who was punching him and Denn, who were both still standing in the roadway.
The man’s car struck the second victim with the right front bumper of his vehicle, which caused the man to go airborne and land in the front yard of the business.
The man then exited his vehicle, which was still in the road, and attempted to run towards the trunk of the vehicle and away from the suspect.
As the man exited his vehicle and ran away from the Denn, Denn fired three rounds at the man, with the third round striking the man on the right side of his head, slightly just behind and above the right ear.
Authorities say the man fell to the ground immediately.
Denn told investigators that at no time during the incident did he witness the man with any weapons. The suspect could not tell investigators where the man’s hands were when he exited his vehicle, and the suspect did not hear the man make any threats or statements when he exited his vehicle.
“Based on the interview’s and investigation, it was determined the suspect committed the criminal offense of 2nd degree murder, when the suspect intentionally discharged a firearm at the victim as the victim ran away, striking the victim in the head, which resulted in the victim deaths,” said Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Other News: 53-Year-Old Lakeland Man Dies In Motorcycle Crash Sunday, Under Investigation