Lakeland man in custody accused of killing brother-in-law, threatening sister and neighbor with gun: LPD
LAKELAND, Fla. - A murder suspect is in custody after Lakeland Police say he shot his brother-in-law and threatened his sister before entering a residence next door, threatening the resident if she reported him.
As officers approached the scene around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the woman inside the residence with the suspect, Jermaine Harrison, was able to escape after she says he became distracted.
Many hours later at 1:27 a.m., officers took the 40-year-old Lakeland man into custody.
READ: Bodycam video shows gunfire exchange between convicted felon, Tampa police
This all began close to 4 p.m. at a mobile home park on the 2900 block of New Tampa Hwy. Police say Harrison arrived asking for mail that he was expecting.
While looking for the mailbox key, Harrison pointed a gun at his sister and shot in her direction, hitting a laundry hamper.
Harrison then pointed the gun at his brother-in-law, Joseph Gray, shooting him multiple times in the upper body.
Gray was transported to Lakeland Regional Health where he later died from his injuries.
Big picture view:
The suspect's sister later told police that her brother had been acting erratically recently and believed he was using drugs.
Charges
- First degree murder
- Attempted first degree murder
- Armed burglary of an occupied dwelling
- Armed kidnapping
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
What's next:
The Lakeland Police Department is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Jaime Smith at jaime.smith@lakelandgov.net.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lakeland Police Department.
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