LAKE WALES, Fla. – A Lake Wales man faces attempted first-degree murder charges following a shooting on W. Park Avenue that left another man critically injured.
The incident occurred around 11:14 p.m. on August 28, 2024. Lake Wales Police officers responded to reports of a shooting and found the victim with a gunshot wound to his chest. Officers provided immediate medical aid until EMS arrived and airlifted the victim to a trauma center.
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A swift search involving officers, deputies, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation and K9 units led to the arrest of Terrence Mathis, 33, of Lake Wales, just one block from the scene. The investigation revealed that an argument between the victim and Mathis preceded the shooting.
Mathis is currently in custody at the Polk County Jail. The victim remains in critical condition.
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The Lake Wales Police Department urges anyone with information about this crime to contact them at 863-678-4223.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) or via their website or mobile app.
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