1 dead, 1 critically injured in 'unrelated' Highlands County shootings
Highlands deputies are investigating 2 unrelated shootings. Image is courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.
LAKE PLACID, Fla. - The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is investigating a pair of shootings that claimed the life of one man and critically injured another man.
According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the BP station at the intersection of US 27 and SR 70 around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday.
When deputies arrived, they found 42-year-old Manuel Benitez Reyes Guzman inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head.
He was airlifted to an area hospital and is in critical condition.
READ: HCSO: 9 arrested during street racing operation
Investigators say a verbal altercation took place shortly before the shooting.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
The second shooting occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday.
READ: Hillsborough County deputies searching for deadly carjacker
According to HCSO, deputies responded to a home on Josephine Avenue in the Highway Park area of Lake Placid and found 57-year-old Arthur Scurry Jr. dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Deputies say the shootings are not related.
READ: Trooper arrests Pinellas County deputy for DUI
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call 863-402-7200 or email detectives@highlandssheriff.org.
Anonymous tips can be left via the HCSO app or with Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 (**TIPS on a cell phone) or online at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers tips are always anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward of up to $9,500.