POINCIANA, FL– One person is dead and two others are in critical condition after a confrontation turned deadly Thursday.
The incident occurred at a home on Sawfish Drive, around 4:15 p.m. on.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that the suspect 33-year-old Derek “Ice” Bacote, went to the home to confront one of the victims because they had a girlfriend in common.
Police say Bacote called the victim and requested to meet so that they could fight.
It is unknown how Bacote knew the victim was at the home, but when he arrived, he was greeted by a 30-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman who were sitting in a Nissan in the driveway.
Officials say that after the greeting, the victim who Bacote came to fight, walked out of the home and greeted him. Bacote reportedly punched the man and an argument ensued between the victim and Bacote.
As the argument escalated, Bacote pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim and a man who lives at the residence and was standing nearby.
The resident went back into the home to be with his four young children and that’s when Bacote turned towards the Nissan and began shooting into the vehicle.
The 30-year-old began driving away from the scene but crashed into a mailbox before the vehicle rolled across the street and went through a fence.
Another person at the scene then opened fire on Bacote.
Authorities say the two victims in the vehicle were taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
The 30-year-old is listed as critical and unstable. The woman is listed as critical but stable.
Bacote was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There’s no current danger in the community from this event. Our primary aggressor is deceased, and the investigation goes on,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.