Update April 10, 2012
Sanford Police Car shot up. More information here.
Update April 4, 2012
Sanford Drive By
This morning, according to a police report, at approximately 2:20 AM a silver car drove by a crowd of people in front of a home in the 1400 block of 14th Street. At least 30 shots were fired hitting a pregnant woman and two men. The injured were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Morgenstern said, the shooters “attacked with automatic weapons”. Don’t know if they really mean “semi-automatic” but the Sentinel quotes “automatic”. Scary!
Not sure I’ve ever had a crowd of people in my front yard at 2:20 AM on a Tuesday but hey different strokes…
April 2, 2012
Yesterday’s paper was full of more bad news showing just how out of control Sanford, FL has become.
Two teens, Julius Bender, 18 and Yahaziel Israel, 19 were arrested on charges of attempted homicide, burglary with assault or battery, and armed burglary. The incident happened back on March 26, 2012.
These young men allegedly attacked their victim, a 50-year-old unidentified male, in his vehicle with a hammer in the area of Lincoln Street and Beardall Avenue (OK, so it isn’t Sanford, it’s Midway, but it is Sanford adjacent).
The pair dragged the man out of his car and while Bender held him, Israel hit him repeatedly in the head with a hammer. The men then drug the man into the woods and fled the scene in his car. A witness, hearing the victim’s cries for help, called 911 however Bender and Israel had fled before police arrived. The vehicle was found about a half-mile away on Garbo Jack Lane.
Apparently neither of these two got word that Hammer Time ended 20 years ago.
The victim was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he underwent emergency brain surgery and is currently on life support.
So basically these two, allegedly, beat someone in the head with a hammer to avoid walking a couple of blocks. WTF!!!
A Crimeline tip led to Bender when the caller provided police with his street name and Israel’s fingerprints were found in the car. A witness later identified both in a police lineup. Well done Crimeline caller and witness!
Also hitting the Orlando Sentinel yesterday was another 17-year-old who was shot in Sanford, FL.
Police were on routine patrol when they heard shots and responded to 13th Place and Mangoustine Avenue at around 2:00 AM Monday morning. Once there they found an unidentified teen who had been shot laying in the middle of the street.
Unlike the Trayvon Martin case thus far there is no suspect in this incident.