OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Three Osceola High School students were injured during what appears to be a shootout at a resort in Davenport, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting happened early Sunday at Azur Resort on Famagusta Drive in Davenport, which the sheriff’s office said has some short-term rentals.
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According to the sheriff’s office, there were over 100 people and several vehicles at the scene when a fight broke out. A witness told deputies that a “group of males” were fighting when they began shooting at each other, according to a release.
Deputies said three people — a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man — were injured “due to being in the crossfire” while they were in a parked vehicle. The three said they heard an argument before the gunfire.
The 18-year-old suffered a graze wound to the forehead but was treated and released from the hospital, officials said.
The 17-year-old boy had debris in his eye. Sheriff Grady Judd said, at this point, he may lose the use of his eye. The 17-year-old girl had graze wounds to the shoulder and forehead, deputies said. They remained in the hospital as of Sunday, according to sheriff’s officials.
The sheriff’s office said all three were from Osceola High School. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the victims were not “troublemakers,” he said they were just where they shouldn’t have been after midnight.
The sheriff’s office said they are looking at videos to try and find the gunmen, but they are having trouble getting anyone to speak. Judd said they believe there were at least three shooters, given the number of shells and bullet holes.
“So my question is, and there are many I’m sure you have, parents, where were your kids at 2:15 a.m. in the morning?” Judd said. “These are high school kids. The second question I have is why is it that there’s over 100 people here and nobody knows anything?”
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Elizabeth Kennedy, principal at Osceola High School, posted on Facebook on Sunday, saying in part, “... you may have become aware of a tragic incident that happened involving three of our students over the weekend.”
Read the full statement from Kennedy:
“Principal Kennedy here.
You may have become aware of a tragic incident that happened involving three of our students over the weekend.
First and foremost, our hearts and thoughts are with the students and families involved. I am extremely thankful that all three students survived.
Second, I want to assure you that we will have additional counseling personnel on campus tomorrow to support any student who needs to talk with someone. We have very limited details and can not release any information at this time.
We will, however, provide the utmost care for our students as we come together to process the impact on our Kowboy family.
Any student who would like to talk to someone on the counseling team tomorrow morning is encouraged to let an administrator know as they arrive on campus. If, at any time, in the morning a student would like to talk to someone, they should tell their teacher and make their way to the media center.
We are mindful that tomorrow begins both state and Advanced Placement testing, so please reach out to administration if your student has been affected by the events that took place so we can seek to make arrangements to ensure they are also supported academically by our team.
As we lean on each other, I want our students to know that they are not alone—our Kowboy family stands united in compassion and strength. Together, we will find hope, healing, and the resilience to move forward."
Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy
Kennedy said counselors will be available on the school’s campus on Monday for any student who needs to speak with someone.
“So moms and dads, I need you to lean in on your high school kids that were there and say, ‘hey, if we don’t do something tonight, what’s to stop that bullet from killing someone next Saturday night or next Friday night?” Judd said.
Judd said they are still working to nail down whether there was a party happening at a short-term rental in the complex and if the shooters were attending the party. Judd said his office has also asked Airbnb and VRBO not to rent to kids.
“And they still do it,” Judd said. “And then the kids invite their friends and their friends invite the friends, and then next thing it’s on social media, and the next thing you know is you have people show up with guns and start shooting each other. This frustrates me very badly.”
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to contact its office at 863-298-6200 or to submit anonymous tips at 1-888-400-8477.
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest updates.