POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Four men were arrested after a mother and daughter were found dead inside a Polk County home late Thursday night following a robbery at a pawn shop, authorities said.
Officers said the victims were identified as Patricia Moran, 72, and Deborah Royal, 51.
Law enforcement officers responded to a robbery in progress at the Cash America Pawn on Havendale Boulevard in Auburndale where three robbers fled in a burgundy GMC SUV driven by a fourth man.
During a news conference Friday, Sheriff Grady Judd said they arrested a third man, Jovan Lamb, 29, who was on the run after two other suspects were arrested earlier.
Authorities said the SUV was spotted by Haines City police heading eastbound on US 1792 in Haines City. Officers followed the SUV and said the men fired shots at the squad car.
The officers were not hit.
The robbery suspects then crashed near the Chanler Ridge subdivision, west of US 27 and north of US 1792.
The four men fled from the crashed car, and one man, Devon McCune, 22, was caught and arrested.
The others fled on foot.
Moments later, law enforcement received information from a resident that a house nearby had suspicious activity.
Deputies and officers surrounded the house, and a blue car barreled out of the garage at the deputies and officers, who opened fire on the car. The car stopped and the one man inside the car, Michael Gordon, 34, was taken into custody.
"We looked and could see two deceased people underneath the curtains inside the residence. Just shortly afterward is when the car burst out of the garage," said Judd.
Gordon was shot four times and also bitten by a K-9, officers said. He has non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigating officers said that's when they found the womens' bodies inside the home.
Late Friday morning, authorities arrested Terrell Williams, 30. He was the fourth and last suspect involved in the crime.
Williams was found hiding in a shed in a woman's back yard.
Alice Ross said one of the men knocked on her door overnight, asking to use her phone.
"He just knocked on the door and I said, 'Who is it?' And, it sounded like he said, 'Police,' so I cracked my inner door and saw it wasn't the police, and he said, 'Can I use your phone, and I said, 'No.' I closed the door and called 911," Ross said.
"They’re dangerous. They’re very dangerous," said Judd.
"I just thanked God that I was alive," said Ross. "He was watching over me."
McCune was charged with two counts of armed robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer, one count of fleeing to elude and one count of grand theft.
Gordon was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of armed burglary of a dwelling, two counts of armed robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer, two counts fleeing to elude, one count of grand theft auto and one count of grand theft.
Lamb was charged with two counts of armed robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer, one count of fleeing to elude, one count of grand theft and one count of violation of probation (felony criminal mischief).
Williams was charged with two counts of armed robbery, one count conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer, one count of fleeing to elude and one count of grand theft.
WFTV
