Florida New Year's Day shooting leaves 2 dead, 4 injured hours after similar incident in Alabama
OCALA, FLORIDA: The Ocala Police Department is looking into a shooting on New Year's Day that left two people dead and four others hurt. Davonta Harris, 30, and Abdul Hakeem Van Croskey, 24, were identified as the two people killed in the incident.
Nearly 100 people had reportedly gathered in the neighborhood when the shooting on SW 5th Street allegedly took place at around 4.30 am. Four more people were shot and were then brought to "an undisclosed location," according to the police, where their conditions were classified as stable. Officials from the Ocala Police Department said in a statement on January 1 that they didn't see any imminent danger to the neighborhood. "This tragic event has left many devastated and mourning," the statement read as per Fox News. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible act.” The police have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 369-7000. According to the statement, anyone who provides a tip to Crime Stoppers that results in an arrest may be eligible for a monetary reward.
RELATED ARTICLES
Who were the victims of Chicago bar mass shooting? 3 killed, 1 injured in gunfire at birthday party
Student, 17, shot near Coney Island high school, second teen injured in shooting this week
Information release on this morning's tragic shooting: https://t.co/g2sixUhtO0 pic.twitter.com/d3DgIPU0xc
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) January 1, 2023
"Together, we can hold those responsible for this crime accountable for their actions and work towards a safer community," the department said. The investigation is ongoing and Ocala police have not identified any suspects in connection with the incident yet.
In a similar incident, a 24-year-old man was killed and nine other people were hurt in a shooting in Mobile, Alabama, according to authorities. The shooting took place a few blocks away from where partygoers had gathered to celebrate the city's New Year's Eve on December 31. According to a press release from the Mobile Police Department, officers responded to a complaint of gunfire in the 200 block of Dauphin Street at approximately 11.14 pm.
Nine additional patients, who ranged in age from 17 to 57 and also sustained gunshot wounds, were sent to nearby hospitals "with injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to severe." A man has been arrested by police as a suspect in relation to the shooting. “The subject is receiving medical treatment and, upon release, will be transported to Metro Jail and charged with murder,” Mobile Police Cpl. Katrina H Frazier said as per CNN. The motive behind the shooting still remains unclear as large crowds were present in the downtown area for the MoonPie Over Mobile event. “This is an active investigation,” Mobile Police said in the release. “We will provide updates as details become available.”