Leesburg

Leesburg police release videos of suspects in shooting of man, 87

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has released two videos capturing the people suspected in the gas station shooting of an 87-year-old man.

One video shows the suspects walking across the parking lot of Citgo, 2101 West Main Street, and the second shows the incident occurring around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said.

 

Two suspects approached the passenger side of the vehicle, while another suspect approached the driver side, where the victim was sitting. During a confrontation, the victim was shot and all three suspects fled.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery Saturday night, Walsh said.

Anyone with information on the shooting can call LPD at 353-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

Leesburg police release videos of suspects in shooting of man, 87 Read More »

File photo

Leesburg police searching for suspects in shooting of 87-year-old victim

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department is searching for three suspects who they say are involved in the shooting of an 87-year-old man.

LPD responded to Citgo, 2101 West Main Street on a report of a shooting around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, LPD. Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. Two suspects approached the passenger side of the vehicle, while another suspect approached the driver side, where the victim was sitting. During a confrontation, the victim was shot and all three suspects fled.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery Saturday night, Walsh said.

Anyone with information on the shooting can call LPD at 353-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

Leesburg police searching for suspects in shooting of 87-year-old victim Read More »

Leesburg police make arrest in July murder

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has made an arrest in the murder of a 20-year-old man in July.

Ondrique D. Mosely, 18, of Lady Lake was arrested Friday without incident in Lady Lake for principal to homicide- premediated, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. He is being held on no bond.

James Jordan was found lying in the yard of a home in the 2200 block of Aitken Loop in Overlook at Lake Griffin around 2:30 p.m. July 8 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he died from his injuries, Walsh said in July.

LPD located and seized the vehicle believed to be involved, the day after the murder , and executed search warrants on the vehicle and the location it was recovered from, Walsh said. LPD has not released the location, or the make and model of the vehicle.

If you have information on Jordan’s death, call LPD at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS; Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.

Previous stories:Vehicle believed to be involved in Leesburg murder found, detectives actively working the case – Inside Lake

Man dies after being found with multiple gunshot wounds in Leesburg yard – Inside Lake

Leesburg police make arrest in July murder Read More »

The Leesburg Blue Foundation Blue Runway 5K slated for next month, registration promo code available for Inside Lake readers

Leesburg, News Briefs / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—The Leesburg Blue Foundation is gearing up for its one-of-a-kind Blue Runway 5K scheduled for Sept. 21.  Participants can walk, jog or run on Leesburg International Airport’s runways while supporting the nonprofit organization that provides resources to support Leesburg Police Department.

Race day registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8 a.m. Participants will start at the taxiway intersection Alpha 4, Leesburg International Airport, 8807 Airport Boulevard, Leesburg and will receive a t-shirt and finisher medal

“All proceeds will benefit the Leesburg Blue Foundation, which is an independent nonprofit organization that provides resources to support, assist and honor the Leesburg Police Department,” LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. “The organization aims to help innovate and improve the quality of its services; build bridges with the community; and make Leesburg a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Beginning Sunday, the registration fee jumps to $45, but Inside Lake readers can take advantage of promo code InsideLake2024, valid through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 13, and pay just $35. The day of the race, registration is $55, so sign up now! For more information on The Leesburg Blue Foundation and to register, visit https://www.leesburgblue.org/

The Leesburg Blue Foundation Blue Runway 5K slated for next month, registration promo code available for Inside Lake readers Read More »

Mom and sister of accused Leesburg murderer arrested, girlfriend wanted by police

Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—The mother and sister of accused murderer Alex Lopez were arrested Thursday for their role in helping Lopez elude capture, and Lopez’ girlfriend is on the run.

Patricia Kinchens, 42, and Breanna Lopez, 27, were taken into custody by Leesburg Police Department, with assistance from Lady Lake Police Department and Wildwood Police Department, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. Lopez’ girlfriend Kaili E. Dupuis, 25, remains wanted.

Patricia Kinchens, is seen here in a 2023 mugshot when she was sentenced for an unrelated probation violation. Breanna Lopez is seen here in her current mugshot,

Alex Lopez, 25, is facing charges of premeditated murder, armed robbery and two other weapons offenses; he is accused of gunning down father of five, Raied “Ray” Shihadeh, 51, at Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, on May 30 during an armed robbery of the store. It was Shihadeh’s daughter’s 16th birthday. Lopez was on the run for nearly a month until he was arrested at a Kissimmee motel June 26. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

Raied “Ray” Shihadeh was murdered May 30, 2024.  Photo courtesy of Monique Shihadeh

Kinchens’ booking information and current mugshot were not available at press time; Breanna Lopez is being held on no bond.

Previous story: Accused murderer back in Lake County – Inside Lake

Mom and sister of accused Leesburg murderer arrested, girlfriend wanted by police Read More »

Derek Watkins is seen walking away from the ambulance he is accused of stealing in this still shot taken from Lake County Sheriff’s Office dash cam video.

Suspect casually strolls away from stolen ambulance, quickly apprehended by deputies (video)

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

TAVARES, Fla.—A Leesburg man remains in the Lake County Jail, accused of stealing an ambulance from a Leesburg hospital last week.

Derek Tyrone Watkins, 22, was apprehended near Independence Boulevard in Groveland by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies casually strolling away from the ambulance early Friday morning, dash cam video obtained by Inside Lake shows.

According to an arrest affidavit, Watkins stole the fully-stocked ambulance from the emergency bay at UF Health Leesburg Hospital, 600 East Dixie Avenue, Leesburg, while a paramedic from Sumter County cleaned off a stretcher inside the hospital after dropping off a patient around 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Watkins was spotted hanging around the emergency bay by nurses who recognized him, and video surveillance also showed Watkins, positively identified by the responding Leesburg Police Department officer, in the area of the ambulance, the affidavit states. Another surveillance video showed the ambulance speeding out of the hospital parking lot onto Pine Street.

The Leesburg Communication Center (LCC) tracked the ambulance through Sumter County Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and it was tracked speeding south down U.S. Highway 27 until it finally stopped at 2100 Independence Boulevard, Groveland—more than 14 miles away.

Dash cam video shows the moment a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulls up on Derek Watkins. *May contain graphic language.*

 

LCC relayed the tracking information to LCSO, and a deputy spotted the ambulance and Watkins walking nearby. Watkins was taken into custody by deputies and handed over to LPD. He was arrested for theft of an ambulance and theft of emergency medical equipment. All the medical equipment was accounted for following an inventory of the ambulance.

Watkins was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $55,000 bond.

Suspect casually strolls away from stolen ambulance, quickly apprehended by deputies (video) Read More »

Leesburg man uninjured in fatal Hillsborough County pedestrian crash

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla.—A Tampa man has died after running in front of a truck being driven by a Leesburg man Sunday morning in Hillsborough County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 31-year-old Leesburg man was driving a GMC Sierra westbound on State Road 674 east of 30th Street Southeast in the Ruskin area when a 34-year-old Tampa man ran across the highway and was struck by the Sierra shortly after midnight, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said.

The Tampa man was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The Leesburg man was not injured.

Leesburg man uninjured in fatal Hillsborough County pedestrian crash Read More »

Florida Highway Patrol

Pedestrian killed attempting to cross Sumter County road Wednesday

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla.—A pedestrian attempting to cross a road was killed Wednesday morning when she was struck by a vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 77-year-old woman, of The Villages, was attempting to cross Old Mill Run near Buena Vista Boulevard when she was struck by a Toyota Corolla being driven eastbound by a 23-year-old Leesburg woman shortly before 7:15 a.m., FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said.

The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Pedestrian killed attempting to cross Sumter County road Wednesday Read More »

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County

Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Public Safety Communications (911) is experiencing intermittent outages due to Hurricane Debby. Residents may not be able to reach dispatchers in an emergency. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call the non-emergency number at 352-343-2101.

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County Read More »

LCSO releases names of deputies who survived ambush Friday night

Inside Scoop, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Fla.—The two Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies who survived after being shot in the line of duty Friday have now been identified.

Master Deputy Bradley Link and Master Deputy Harold Howell were shot Friday night while conducting a well-being check at a home on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis. Link was trapped in the home and Deputy Stefano Gargano was part of a rescue team put in place to extract Link from the home.

Howell, 41, was shot in the arm and is currently awaiting surgery; he is listed in stable condition. He began working for LCSO in 2005 and has been a K9 handler since 2011.

Gargano, 28, was shot numerous times while attempting to rescue Link. “He underwent surgery overnight and was scheduled for a second surgery this afternoon. His condition was last listed as critical,” LCSO Lt. John Herrell said late Saturday afternoon.

Link succumbed to his injuries early Saturday morning after being rescued from the home by LCSO’s SWAT team.

Previous stories: Deputy killed in the line of duty identified – Inside Lake

Lake County Sheriff: 3 deputies shot, 1 killed Friday night outside Eustis in a “hail of gunfire” – Inside Lake

 

LCSO releases names of deputies who survived ambush Friday night Read More »

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