LAKELAND, Fla. — A 21-year-old Polk County man was shot to death after driving a friend to a Family Dollar store to sell an item he’d advertised online, deputies said.
Jeffrey Morrow Jr. drove to the store in the 1100 block of South Combee Road in Lakeland with Blake Fitez to sell the item Sunday night, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
When they met up with the buyer, the man reached into the window, grabbed the item and ran away, investigators said.
The PCSO did not identify what Fitez was selling, only that it was worth $450.
The two chased after the thief and at one point Morrow yelled that he was armed and ordered the man to stop, deputies said.
The unidentified robber turned and fired a gun, hitting Morrow, Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Fitez ran into the store and called 911 and Morrow was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he later died.
The shooter was described as a black male in his 20s, wearing a light-colored hooded jacket, a red shirt and white shoes.
He was last seen running through the parking lot of a nearby gas station, deputies said.
Anyone with information on the incident or shooter is asked to call the PCSO, 863-298-6200.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cox Media Group
