2 injured in shooting near St. Armands Circle, neighbors concerned about nearby vacation rentals

SARASOTA, Fla. - Two people were sent to the hospital after a shooting overnight at a vacation rental in a Sarasota neighborhood near Lido Key. 

The incident only fueled growing frustration among people who said their quiet neighborhood is beginning to be taken over by vacation rentals.

Just before 1 a.m. on Monday, the Sarasota Police Department said the two adults sustained minor injuries during the shooting at a vacation rental near the intersection of Jackson Drive and South Washington Drive. Nearby surveillance cameras captured cars peeling away.

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Manuel Chepote could hear the sound of gunshots ricocheting through his Lido Key neighborhood.

"It was so scary. I woke up to a lot of screaming," he said.

Bullet holes were found in a nearby cement fence, a pillar of the home next door and a rental sign. 

Chepote who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, worries about what could happen next time. 

"That’s terrible. You’re walking and then you’re killed innocently. This is terrible," he said.

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Sarasota police are asking the public for help finding whoever pulled the trigger.

"This is not like Sarasota. This is actually the only shooting to occur on Lido and St.Armands this year. We are trying to solve this quickly," said Cynthia McLaughlin with SPD.

As they work on a motive, those who live on Lido Key said they’re fed up with short-term rentals taking over their neighborhoods.

"They should take the licenses away or put limits. You rent for one month and come here, but not these people who come every other week. We have somebody new, and we don’t know who they are," said Chepote.

The rental company Lido Key Vacations had no comment when FOX 13 reached out.  

The City of Sarasota said they are working on extending regulations throughout the city. Barrier islands already require rentals to register with the city and require at least a week-long stay.

"I think it’s really important that we continue to address issues with vacation rentals in our city. It’s a problem that is growing, and we hear from all the neighborhoods, not just the barrier islands," said Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch.

Signs of a party remained Monday afternoon at the vacation rental with alcohol bottles thrown on the roof and the bushes. It leaves neighbors concerned about who could be checking in next. 

"These people that come in and out of our neighborhood, we don’t know who they are," said Chepote.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 941-263-6070 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.