Shooter still on the loose in Tavares drive-by that injured 2-year-old girl, police say

TAVARES, Fla. — The shooter from a Tuesday evening drive-by in Tavares remained on the loose Wednesday while a 2-year-old girl injured in the incident was released from the hospital, police said.

Someone in a dark gray Chevrolet Malibu fired several shots at about 9 p.m. on West Rosewood Lane in the Rosewood Homes complex near Captain Haynes and Dead River roads, Officer Sarah Coursey said.

Police announced Wednesday evening that they believe they have found the car in question.

Sy'mia Pierce was playing in a pickup truck when a bullet grazed her side, Coursey said.

Police said the toddler was taken to Florida Hospital Waterman with minor injuries.

Sy'mia was released from the hospital early Wednesday. Her 9-month-old brother, who was also in the truck during the shooting, was uninjured, their mother, Tiffany Collins, said.

"She was in the backseat playing at the time," Collins said. "Maybe the jumping around made the bullet miss her."

Collins said two bullets were found in her truck and a third struck a neighbor's window.

Neighbor Maurice Lulo said he watching television when he heard the gunfire.

Hear the girl's mother describe the incident below:

"I heard three shots," he said. "I saw lot of people coming out of that apartment."

He immediately called 911.

His wife, Lucy Lulo, said they've come to befriend the neighborhood children, including Sy'mia.

"They call us grandma and papi," she said. "There's a lot of kids that play from here (to) the stop sign."

She said she's relieved Sy'mia is doing well.

Police said the gunman fled and remains at large, but police said there are persons of interest in the case.

"I know they've been getting leads and clues and they're getting people calling in and trying to get help out," Coursey said.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tavares police at 352-742-6300 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.

Cox Media Group