ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A man was shot in the face and shoulder Tuesday morning when he confronted at least two people breaking into his car, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
The shooting was reported at about 8 a.m. in the 7400 block of Megan Elissa Lane near Dr. Phillips High School and caused all schools in the area to go into lockdown.
When the victim, later identified as Mike Polder, approached the men in his car, they started to pull away, then fell out of the vehicle. At least one fired a gun, OCSO spokesman Jeff Williamson said.
[ Raw video: Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman details Megan Elissa Lane shooting ]
"So it appears we have a possible carjacking, burglary to a vehicle, grand theft auto, aggravated battery with a firearm, so multiple crimes took place in this one particular incident this morning," he said.
Investigators believe that four people were involved in the burglary and attack, two of whom fled on foot and another two who fled in a vehicle.
“The victim observed two individuals in his vehicle. A confrontation ensued and the two subjects pulled away in the victim’s vehicle,” said Williamson. “At some point, they bail out of the vehicle, shooting the victim and fleeing on foot.”
Dora Muffi, the victim's neighbor, told Channel 9 that the incident unfolded very quickly.
"(I) heard the noise, opened the door, (saw the victim) on the ground, the car was already in the middle of the street and they were gone," Muffi said. "It was like that, in an instant."
All four remain at large, Williamson said.
“”We believe there are possibly four subjects total that may be involved in this. We understand there are witnesses who saw two flee on foot and two flee in a vehicle,” Williamson said.
The victim was taken to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries, he said.
An investigation into the shooting is continuing.
School lockdowns have since been lifted.