EUSTIS, Fla.—Eustis Police Department is investigating after multiple shots were fired just after noon Saturday while dozens of youth cheerleaders and football players enjoyed their Saturday game day just a few blocks away.
EPD received multiple calls about shots fired beginning at 12:01 p.m. Saturday and callers believed the shots were at Carver Park and officers rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the shots actually occurred on Wall Street between Virginia Avenue and Hollywood Avenue after finding multiple shell casings and speaking with witnesses, Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. Carver Park is on Bates Avenue, and a gate to the back of the park is on Virginia Avenue. No one was injured in the shooting, but a bullet did go through a fence and the back window of a home on Virginia Avenue.
Detectives and EPD’s crime scene investigator responded to the scene and investigated for more than three hours, Capri said. No suspect information was released, and Capri expressed his disgust that anyone would fire shots so close to where children were gathered, referring to the suspects as “idiots.”
“We have zero tolerance for gun violence in our city,” Capri said.
The shots startled coaches, parents and kids at the Eustis Jr. Panthers field at Carver Park. A coach from a Lakeland team retrieved a firearm from his vehicle to protect his family, he told police, and the sight of the firearm caused an altercation at the park. Officers then responded back to the park and detained the coach. He was questioned and released. Inside Lake is not naming the man because he was not charged with a crime. For safety reasons, EPD canceled the remainder of the games for the day, Capri said.
If you have information on Saturday’s shooting, call EPD at 352-357-4121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
