Shooting Archives - Inside Lake

Shots fired in Tavares condo complex Wednesday, knocks power out to multiple residences

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department is investigating after multiple shots were fired in a condominium complex late Wednesday night.

Shortly before 10 p.m., TPD received multiple 911 calls in reference to numerous shots being fired in the Rosewood Condominiums, located off Dead River Road, Det. Courtney Sullivan said.

No one was injured, according to Sullivan, and two vehicles fled the complex; one may have been a gray Chevrolet Impala or a Dodge Dart.

Police believe there were multiple people involved in the incident and at least two shooters, due to evidence found at the scene. An electrical box was shot, leaving approximately 90 residents without power for nearly eight hours, Sullivan said.

“Investigators are working diligently to determine those involved and are urging witnesses to come forward to assist with the investigation,” Sullivan said. If you have information, call TPD at 352-343-2101, option 4.

Rosewood has been the site of multiple shootings over the past several years, including a murder in 2018. No arrests have been made in that case. In November 2023, police investigated two separate shootings just four days apart.

Previous story: Tavares Police Investigating After Receiving Multiple Calls of Shots Fired at Rosewood Condos Friday Night – Inside Lake

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Lake County jury convicts man of shooting woman in Mount Dora last year

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—A man accused of shooting a woman twice in Mount Dora last year was convicted by a Lake County jury Wednesday, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

In March 2023, Mount Dora Police Department responded to the 1500 block of Pine Avenue on a report of a shooting and when they arrived, they found a woman in a 2010 Nissan passenger vehicle suffering from two gunshot wounds. The victim told police “Jason,” later identified as Jason Jameel Ganga shot her while she was attempting to leave, and he was inside. There were two bullet holes through her driver’s side window, an affidavit in the case states.

MDPD found Ganga, who showed signs of alcohol intoxication, underneath a bed. Officers grabbed his legs and pulled him out, and as they pulled him out, they saw he was holding a .40 caliber semi-automatic Smith & Wesson handgun to his temple and actively pulling the trigger; the gun did not have a magazine. The gun was secured, and Ganga was taken into custody. He refused to cooperate with MDPD’s questioning and a search of the home revealed multiple firearms, including handguns and rifles, with ammunition scattered throughout the premises. He was arrested on multiple charges and has been held in the Lake County Jail since his arrest.

Ganga was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and aggravated battery. He was represented by Spencer Rhodes of Orlando and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Gabriel Lozano and Eddie Moffitt. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Previous story: Mount Dora Police Arrest Armed Man Accused of Shooting Woman Twice Sunday Night – Inside Lake

Lake County jury convicts man of shooting woman in Mount Dora last year Read More »

Deputies investigating exchange of gunfire near Mount Dora Thursday

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that involved the occupants of two vehicles apparently shooting at each other Thursday afternoon in unincorporated Mount Dora.

LCSO responded to Old Eustis Road around 5 pm. Thursday after someone reported shots were fired in the area, according to a report. A witness told a deputy he was outside when he heard what he believed to be fireworks. He then saw a silver midsize sedan traveling eastbound and what appeared to be a longer style gun firing shots from behind the car at a “metallic deep blue” truck traveling westbound. He said he saw the truck pull over and a black male exited the truck and began shooting at the silver car.

A second witness told the deputy she was in her home when she heard repetitive gunfire and when she looked outside, she saw a “pearly blue” truck parked on the road and a “young black male” shooting eastbound but could not see what the male was shooting at, according to the report.

Five shell casings were found at the scene, including four 9mm casings and a single rifle casing, the report states, and a resident provided video footage of the exchange of gunfire to LCSO. A video was also provided to Inside Lake by a source who wished to remain anonymous, and asked us not to share, due to fear of retaliation. Numerous shots can be heard in the video provided to Inside Lake.

If you have information on Thursday’s incident, call LSCO at 352-343-2101.

Deputies investigating exchange of gunfire near Mount Dora Thursday Read More »

Clermont woman who was “acting strange and talking about having premonitions” arrested for killing husband

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

CLERMONT, Fla.—A woman is facing a first-degree murder charge after shooting and killing her husband late Sunday night, according to an arrest affidavit.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to 10649 Lake Ralph Drive in unincorporated Clermont just before 10:10 p.m. on a report of a homicide and when they arrived, the complainant whose name is redacted from the affidavit, escorted a deputy into the home where Maria Jose Rodriguez, 40, was sitting in the dining room.

She was secured in handcuffs and placed in a patrol vehicle and deputies then found her husband, Andrew Rodriguez, 40, lying on his side in a pool of blood in a bedroom. Lake EMS pronounced him deceased 10 minutes after LCSO arrived on scene.

The complainant told deputies Maria Rodriguez was “acting strange and talking about having premonitions” prior to the shooting. Andrew Rodriguez contacted Maria Rodriguez’ mother and requested family members to come to the home. When the family told Maria Rodriguez they were going to take her to the hospital, she “freaked out,” followed her husband into the bedroom and shot him multiple times.

Maria Rodriguez then exited the bedroom with a notebook in her hand and stated how important the notebook was, according to the affidavit. Evidence found at the scene was consistent with Maria Rodriguez moving closer to her husband as she fired, an LCSO detective noted in the affidavit.

She was arrested for first-degree murder and transported to the Lake County Jail, where she is being held on no bond.

Clermont woman who was “acting strange and talking about having premonitions” arrested for killing husband Read More »

No charges expected in Eustis shooting Sunday

Eustis, Inside Scoop / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Fla.—The man who shot his cousin Sunday in a dispute over a vehicle repair likely won’t be charged, according to Eustis Police Department.

Jamaal Jones, 32, got into a dispute with his cousin, Devante Simmons, 31, over Jones repairing Simmons’ transmission, EPD Sgt. Paul Barnett told Inside Lake. The altercation led to Jones shooting Simmons after warning him several times, Barnett said.

Simmons was shot in the left upper thigh and transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with non-life-threatening injuries.

Previous story: BREAKING NEWS: Eustis Police investigating after dispute between cousins ends in shooting – Inside Lake

No charges expected in Eustis shooting Sunday Read More »

Eustis Police Department investigates after a man shot his cousin Sunday afternoon; the victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Courtesy photo

BREAKING NEWS: Eustis Police investigating after dispute between cousins ends in shooting

Eustis, Inside Scoop / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Fla.—One man is in custody and one man is in the hospital after a dispute between cousins ended in a shooting Sunday, according to Eustis Police Department Chief Craig Capri.

The incident occurred around noon Sunday at 210 West Stevens Avenue near Titcomb Street. Police had not released names at press time, and Capri said detectives are investigating whether the incident was a case of self-defense.

The victim suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford.

This is a developing story.

BREAKING NEWS: Eustis Police investigating after dispute between cousins ends in shooting Read More »

Argument Over Drill Led to Shooting Near Fruitland Park Friday

Fruitland Park, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla.—The man accused of shooting another man in unincorporated Fruitland Park Friday is now facing an attempted murder charge.

According to an arrest affidavit, Scott Hutcheson and Michael Robert Corkill, 39, got into an argument after Corkill grabbed Hutcheson’s drill while he was at a friend’s house working on a four-wheeler. Hutcheson told Corkill not to touch his things and Corkill reportedly said, “I’ve got something for your (expletive,)” and walked across the street to his home at 36751 Shadow Hill Drive, according to an arrest affidavit.

Corkill then stepped out of his home, stood in his driveway, pointed a black rifle at Hutcheson and shot him in the left forearm. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Corkhill retreated to his home and barricaded himself for nearly three hours until LCSO’s SWAT Team entered his home and took him into custody. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.

Previous stories: Deputies take Suspected Shooter into Custody after nearly 4 Hours – Inside Lake

BREAKING NEWS: Large Law Enforcement Presence Near Fruitland Park, Deputies Attempting to take Shooting Suspect into Custody – Inside Lake

Argument Over Drill Led to Shooting Near Fruitland Park Friday Read More »

Leesburg Police Department investigates a double shooting on Crosby Street Thursday afternoon. Ra'Niyah Benton is facing two charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Photo courtesy of Amy Smalley

Leesburg Woman Accused of Shooting 2 People Last Week in Custody

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Fla.—The woman accused of shooting two people in Leesburg last week is in custody after turning herself in to the Lake County Jail Sunday, according to Leesburg Police Department Capt. Joe Iozzi.

Ra’Niyah M. Benton, 20, is accused of shooting a male and a female in the 1000 block of Crosby Steet in Leesburg around 4 p.m. Thursday. The victims went to UF Health Leesburg hospital on their own and the male victim was later flown to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville as a precaution, Iozzi said last week. Their current conditions are unknown.

Benton is facing two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and is being held on no bond.

Previous story: Leesburg Police Searching for Shooting Suspect – Inside Lake

Leesburg Woman Accused of Shooting 2 People Last Week in Custody Read More »

Argument Leads to Shooting and Lands Leesburg Man in Jail

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Fla.—A Leesburg man is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond after shooting another man in unincorporated Leesburg late Monday night.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on County Road 452 shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday on a report of an argument between Brandon Saunders and Mike Ford, according to an arrest affidavit.

When deputies arrived, they found Ford lying on the ground suffering from two gunshot wounds and they began rendering aid to Ford, who was in and out of consciousness. He told deputies Saunders came after him and Ford “laid him out.” As he made his way back to his truck, Saunders began shooting at him.; Ford said he believed Saunders was trying to shoot him in the head. He was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition, according to the affidavit.

While deputies were aiding Ford, Saunders came out of a tree line and “spontaneously” uttered he shot Ford, the affidavit states. Saunders, 41, was then searched and placed in the back of a patrol car.

A witness told deputies Ford came to the home upset and looking for his girlfriend and the witness was inside when the pair started arguing. The witness went outside, and Saunders handed her the gun, which she hid in the backyard. She gave deputies permission to enter the property and they located the gun. Two shell casings were also found at the scene. Ford’s girlfriend told deputies the couple had argued earlier and she went to the home on County Road 452 to stay with her friend.

Saunders, who was holding a beer can at the time of the incident and had the smell of alcohol on his breath, invoked his right to remain silent. Saunders is a three-time convicted felon and was arrested for attempted felony murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he remains on no bond.

Argument Leads to Shooting and Lands Leesburg Man in Jail Read More »

Leesburg Police Searching for Shooting Suspect

Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Fla—Leesburg Police Department is searching for a suspect who shot two people Thursday afternoon, according to LPD Capt. Joe Iozzi.

Around 4 p.m. LPD responded to UF Health Leesburg Hospital regarding a shooting and found two victims, Iozzi said. Police determined the two victims, a 28-year-old male and a 20-year-old female were shot in the 1000 block of Crosby Street, about 10 blocks from the hospital. The male was flown to UF Health Shands Hospital inn Gainesville as a precaution and both victims are in stable condition.

*Leesburg Police Department investigates after two people were shot on Crosby Street Thursday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Amy Smalley*

Police are now searching for Ra’Niyah M. Benton, 20, who is wanted for two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; she is considered armed and dangerous; if you know Benton’s whereabouts, call LPD at 352-787-2121.

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