Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two men early Sunday morning following a shooting spree from a pickup truck that spanned multiple locations.
The incident began around 3:26 AM on March 16th, when deputies received numerous calls about gunshots being fired from a black Ford F-150.
Callers reported the shots originated from a residence in the Eagle Hammock neighborhood off of Eagle Lake Loop Road, where a single gunshot was fired into the air.
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The truck then proceeded to the boat ramp at Lake McCloud, where several more shots were discharged into the lake.
The vehicle continued its route to the RaceTrac north of Eagle Lake at US 17 and State Road 540. Here, the truck’s tires were intentionally squealing, a display witnessed by two PCSO members, a Crime Information Center Operator and a Crime Analyst, who were taking a meal break at the store.
The PCSO members recorded the truck’s tag number and reported the reckless behavior. While leaving the RaceTrac, another gunshot was fired, this time into the ground, from a truck window.
The Ford F-150 then traveled west and pulled into the Circle K at SR 540 and Spirit Lake, where another gunshot was fired. Deputies located the Ford F-150 a short time later and conducted a traffic stop at the RaceTrac on SR 540 at Thornhill Rd. The four occupants of the vehicle were detained.
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Two of the occupants, juveniles, were released to their parents without charges.
The two adult occupants were identified as 21-year-old Evan Thompson of Bartow and 22-year-old Devon Mailhot of Eagle Lake.
Two firearms were recovered from the truck: a PSA Dagger 9mm and a S&W Shield 9mm. The S&W Shield 9mm was reported stolen in Hernando County in 2023.
Both Thompson and Mailhot were arrested and charged with two counts of Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle within 1000-feet of a Person (F2). The investigation remains ongoing.
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