A Lakeland police officer shot and killed a man in North Lakeland early Sunday morning after witnessing him shoot a woman during a domestic disturbance, Police Chief Ruben Garcia said Sunday.
Garcia said police officers were called to a disturbance at Quarry Rock Road in the Cobblestone Landing townhome community off of Walt Loop Road, just south of the Sandpiper golf community about 6 a.m.
When LPD arrived, they witnessed the suspect shoot a woman in the abdomen. Garcia said one of the officers returned fire and killed the suspect.
Three officers were on scene during the shooting. Only one was involved in the shooting, Garcia said. No officers were injured.
Neither the suspect nor the female victim was identified yet by police.
Speaking to media at the townhome community Sunday morning, Garcia said the woman lived in the community, but they were still trying to determine the relationship between her and the man and whether he also lived in the community.
Garcia said the woman’s daughter, whom he identified as “young adult,” witnessed at least a part of the disturbance, which started in the apartment and spilled out into the parking lot shortly before police arrived. He said police thought either the woman or her daughter made the 911 call, but couldn’t say which one.
The woman, who was shot in the abdomen, was taken to the hospital with “grave” injuries, Garcia said. He described her condition as critical.
Garcia said Cobblestone Landing is a safe community and said, “This would be an unusual call in this neighborhood.” “This is a relatively safe community, very good neighbors here,” he said. “We don’t have many calls for service out here at all.”