“This man is a hero, plain and simple. In a moment when most people would run away from danger, this guard ran toward it and stopped the threat within minutes of the first shots being fired,”
Brandon, Florida – Security guard stops gunman who drove into Tampa-area Citibank Center and opened fire.
“John Fraley confronted this suspect and is a hero, plain and simple. In a moment when most people would run away from danger, this guard ran toward it and stopped the threat within minutes of the first shots being fired,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “With more than 3,200 people on that campus, there is no doubt that these quick and courageous actions saved lives. We are deeply grateful to the entire Citibank security team for their training, their preparedness, and their bravery under unimaginable pressure.”
Brandon, Fla. – A security guard stopped a gunman in an exchange of gunfire after the shooter crashed a car into an outdoor area at the Citibank Center complex outside of Tampa and fatally shot a woman, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank Losat said Wednesday.
The security guard was injured and at least four others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries following the lunchtime shooting, Losat said. The shooting also prompted the evacuation of thousands of employees from the sprawling complex in Brandon.
If you are not afraid of a gun, get a gun, get trained, become proficient with it.
Don’t just settle for having a concealed carry license or just knowing how to pull a trigger. Let us take you to the advanced level of handgun self-defense shooting.
Brandon, Fla. – A security guard stopped a gunman in an exchange of gunfire after the shooter crashed a car into an outdoor area at the Citibank Center complex outside of Tampa and fatally shot a woman, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank Losat said Wednesday.
The security guard was injured and at least four others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries following the lunchtime shooting, Losat said. The shooting also prompted the evacuation of thousands of employees from the sprawling complex in Brandon.
If you are not afraid of a gun, get a gun, get trained, become proficient with it.
Don’t just settle for having a concealed carry license or just knowing how to pull a trigger. Let us take you to the advanced level of handgun self-defense shooting.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praises two citizens who held a woman he said was intoxicated and threatening customers at a Dollar General store with a knife.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A knife-wielding Kissimmee woman who is in the country illegally was arrested after threatening customers with a knife and being held at gunpoint by armed citizens at a Polk County Dollar General, according to the sheriff’s office.
Armed citizens pull gun on knife-wielding intoxicated woman at Florida Dollar General.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An armed citizen holds Natalia Gaviria at gunpoint outside a Polk County Dollar General after she allegedly threatened customers with a knife. Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 36-year-old Natalia Gaviria, of Kissimmee, got heavily intoxicated before entering the Dollar General. Once inside, she reportedly pulled out a knife, began waving it around and threatened customers.
Store employees quickly ushered customers out of the building and called 911. During the encounter, investigators said Gaviria stabbed a soda bottle inside the business.
Two residents drew their concealed firearms and held Gaviria at gunpoint until law enforcement officers arrived. Sheriff Judd noted that under Florida law, residents do not need a permit to carry a concealed firearm.
“Way to go Polk County,” Judd said. “When we got there, you may say the caper was over.”
Gaviria was taken into custody and charged with disorderly intoxication, theft of the stabbed soda bottle and two counts of assault.
Don’t just settle for having a concealed carry license or just knowing how to pull a trigger. Let us take you to the advanced level of handgun self-defense shooting.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praises two citizens who held a woman he said was intoxicated and threatening customers at a Dollar General store with a knife.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A knife-wielding Kissimmee woman who is in the country illegally was arrested after threatening customers with a knife and being held at gunpoint by armed citizens at a Polk County Dollar General, according to the sheriff’s office.
Armed citizens pull gun on knife-wielding intoxicated woman at Florida Dollar General.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An armed citizen holds Natalia Gaviria at gunpoint outside a Polk County Dollar General after she allegedly threatened customers with a knife. Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 36-year-old Natalia Gaviria, of Kissimmee, got heavily intoxicated before entering the Dollar General. Once inside, she reportedly pulled out a knife, began waving it around and threatened customers.
Store employees quickly ushered customers out of the building and called 911. During the encounter, investigators said Gaviria stabbed a soda bottle inside the business.
Two residents drew their concealed firearms and held Gaviria at gunpoint until law enforcement officers arrived. Sheriff Judd noted that under Florida law, residents do not need a permit to carry a concealed firearm.
“Way to go Polk County,” Judd said. “When we got there, you may say the caper was over.”
Gaviria was taken into custody and charged with disorderly intoxication, theft of the stabbed soda bottle and two counts of assault.
Don’t just settle for having a concealed carry license or just knowing how to pull a trigger. Let us take you to the advanced level of handgun self-defense shooting.
Bartow, Florida – “. . . the father was bending down to look at the [credit] card when the gun that was concealed in his waistband began to cause him discomfort . . . ” – Sheriff Grady Judd.
“So he takes his Glock out of his waistband and lays it down,” Grady Judd said
According to Sheriff Judd, the child, who had been in the backseat, is believed to have gotten ahold of the gun and was playing with it before accidentally shooting himself in the face. The child was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health where he was pronounced dead.
For the complete story, as reported by News Channel 8 CLICK HERE
This is the second child, self-inflicted, accidental gunshot incident in Polk County, Florida this year. The previous one involved a 6-year-old child in Winter Haven that resulted in the child’s death.
In 2025, Polk County experience 3 child gun related incidents that resulted in the death of two children.
Editorial Comment: It is not the children’s fault. It is not the gun’s fault. It is the adult parent’s fault for having the lack of training and knowledge to safely handle and store his or her firearm. When it comes to firearms, there is no such thing as an accident. It is negligence!
Free child safety gun locks available from In-Gauge of Polk County. Simply send an email request to: in-gauge@ingaugeofpolkcounty.com
In-Gauge of Polk County, a private, non-profit organization, Winter Haven, Florida, has FREE child safety gun locks to Polk County residents, available for the asking. Polk County residents need only send an email request to receive a free gun lock.
This Friday starts the inaugural Z-Day Ultimate Zombie Shoot . Where: The Wild West Gun Range, Dundee, Florida
This event will take place every Friday and Saturday evening through October 31st, starting Friday, October 16th.
You may have seen similar events advertised by other gun ranges, but non can compare. No other gun range has the features of the Wild West gun range. CLICK HERE for a sample experience.
Use your imagination, take that experience, combine it with a zombie shooting theme, low-light conditions, fog, moving targets, threat/no threat simulations and flashing colored lights, ominous music and you have the Z-Day The Ultimate Zombie Shoot.
For complete information and to reserve a lane CLICK HERE. Feel free to book ahead.
This Friday starts the inaugural Z-Day Ultimate Zombie Shoot . Where: The Wild West Gun Range, Dundee, Florida
This event will take place every Friday and Saturday evening through October 31st, starting Friday, October 16th.
You may have seen similar events advertised by other gun ranges, but non can compare. No other gun range, open to the public, has the features of the Wild West gun range. CLICK HERE for a sample experience.
Use your imagination, take that experience, combine it with a zombie shooting theme, low-light conditions, fog, moving targets, threat/no threat simulations and flashing lights, with ominous audio and you have the Z-Day The Ultimate Zombie Shoot.
For complete information and to reserve a lane CLICK HERE. Feel free to book ahead.
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Two men are facing attempted murder charges after a party at the Lake Wales “Mud Hole” ended in a shooting that injured four people Sunday, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Lake Wales shooting investigation Deputies responded around 12:18 a.m. Sunday to the property on Alturas Babson Park Cut-Off Road, west of US 27, after reports of multiple people shot.
PCSO said an 18-year-old Lakeland woman who was shot in the abdomen was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, where she remains stable.
Three other victims were driven to hospitals by friends before deputies arrived on the scene, according to deputies.
The sheriff’s office said a 20-year-old Lake Wales woman was shot in the right thigh, a 19-year-old Lakeland man was shot in the left arm, and a 21-year-old Eagle Lake woman was shot in the left foot.
Social media party shooting Detectives have not released a motive for the shooting or explained what led up to the gunfire. Authorities also have not said whether additional suspects will be charged as the investigation continues.
Polk County arrests made Between 150 and 300 people attended the party, which had been advertised on social media as a gathering with “Good vibes, good people, and no drama,” according to PCSO. Detectives said they interviewed more than 100 witnesses at the scene and over the following days to identify the suspects.
On Thursday, deputies arrested 20-year-old Richard William Fante of Lakeland and 19-year-old Cordae DeShawn Hammonds of Avon Park. PCSO said both men were arrested and charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder and 62 counts of culpable negligence.
A mass shooting occurred in rural, outdoor recreation area frequented by all-terrain-vehicle enthusiasts.
