LAKELAND, Fla. – An investigation is underway after three people were shot and two have died, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
According to police, on Monday, at approximately 6:34 p.m., officers arrived at the scene of this incident and located four persons on scene with a burgundy 2023 Toyota Rav4. Jaquez Norton (age 3) was found to have sustained injuries from gunfire and was declared deceased at the scene.
Robert Einzig, 23, sustained non-life-threatening injuries from gunfire and was transported to Lakeland Regional Health. Yeimarie Baez, 21, and a 3-month-old female infant were not injured.
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Information was received that a white Dodge Challenger was involved with the incident and was seen heading toward the scene northbound on Kathleen Road just prior to the shooting. The same vehicle was also seen leaving the area southbound on Kathleen Road just after the incident.
Around 7:00 p.m., the Police Department was notified a male named Kemarious Wilson (age 22) was dropped off at Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) in a personal vehicle.
Wilson was declared deceased by medical professionals and soon identified as the passenger in the white Challenger.
Detectives learned that during the event, Baez, Einzig, and the children arrived at Cambridge Cove in the Rav4 to visit a friend. As they were leaving the complex, the Challenger approached and blocked the Rav4 from leaving.
At that time, Baez was driving, Einzig was in the front passenger seat, Norton was in the rear passenger seat, and the infant was in the middle of the rear seat. Wilson got out of the passenger side of the Challenger, armed with a handgun, and approached Baez.
Another unidentified male got out of the driver’s seat of the Challenger and approached Einzig with a rifle. Einzig was also armed with a handgun and rifle inside of the Rav4.
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At some point, gunshots were exchanged, and Einzig returned fire with his handgun while Baez fled from the vehicle with the 3-month-old infant. Wilson and the unidentified male fled back to the Challenger and left the scene southbound on Kathleen Road. The Challenger then drove to the 800 block of West 14th Street to a relative’s residence. Wilson was placed in another vehicle and transported to Lakeland Regional Health.
The 2014 Challenger bearing Florida license plate number PXPF93 was located at a residence in the 800 block of West Crawford Street. It was being concealed with a black covering. The resident was cooperative with the investigation. The Challenger, the Rav4, and the vehicle used to transport Wilson to LRH were all impounded to be processed for evidence. Multiple cell phones were seized for processing, and multiple locations were canvassed for surveillance video. In all, nine search warrants were obtained in the pursuit of evidence. Recovered at the incident scene were nineteen .223 caliber spent casings and nine 9mm spent casings.
The parties involved appeared to know each other, but the reason for the conflict has yet to be defined.
Detectives continue to search for information to identify and locate the driver of the Challenger. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cory Lawson at cory.lawson@lakelandgov.net or at 863-834-8975.
Persons who wish to remain anonymous can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers:
* Call 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
* From a cell phone, dial **TIPS
* Visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
* Or download the free “P3tips” app on a smartphone or tablet.
Tipsters will always remain anonymous when they send a tip through Crime Stoppers, and they are eligible for a cash reward of $5,000 if their information leads to an arrest.
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