Teen shot at Tropical Smoothie runs into Crunch Fitness in Land O’ Lakes seeking safety

Investigators with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Business office are seeking for two adult males included in a taking pictures near a popular Tropical Smoothie Cafe Wednesday night that sent one teen to the hospital with accidents.

The 16-calendar year-previous boy and a 17-12 months-outdated boy had been hoping to sell marijuana in the cafe’s parking ton, which is found just off the Pasco County line at 23673 Condition Highway 54 in Lutz. The two teenagers have been cooperating with the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office environment said. They advised investigators the capturing started soon immediately after two adult males wearing ski masks walked up to them in the parking ton all around 8:45 p.m.

The teens commenced to drive away and that’s when they said somebody began shooting at them although adhering to their automobile. On Thursday early morning, the Sheriff’s Business office stopped short of stating if the shooter acted by yourself, driving a motor vehicle that adopted the teenagers whilst continuing to hearth pictures, or if the shooter is considered to be a person of the two masked adult males.

Bullets ongoing to fly as the shooter followed the teens by the intersection of Point out Road 54 and Livingston Street and into Pasco County. Just one bullet struck the 16-year-previous passenger, the Sheriff’s Office environment claimed. The boy is anticipated to get well from his injuries.

Soon after his mate was hit, the 17-yr-old driver pulled up to a nearby Crunch Health in the 2120 block of Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes as the shooter followed. Both the driver and his wounded passenger jumped from the auto and ran inside the gymnasium, yelling for support, when the assailant continued shooting.

When the teens designed it properly within the gym, the shooter drove absent, the Sheriff’s Office reported. The teenagers explained the shooter’s car or truck as an older-model, 4-door Infiniti sedan — maybe an M45 — that was dark in shade. The sedan was described as obtaining important rear-close harm and bungee cords holding the trunk lid closed.

Anybody with information about this incident can connect with the Pasco Sheriff’s Criminal offense Strategies line at 800-706-2488. Strategies also can be submitted anonymously on the internet at PascoSheriff.com/ideas.