SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith revealed new details Friday about what investigators believe led up to a shooting that left eight people injured last weekend.
Smith told Channel 9 the violence was a continuation of an incident that began outside Sanford earlier Saturday morning.
According to Smith, some of the people involved in that earlier incident were later at a gathering near 9th Street and Poplar Avenue. The gathering was being held in remembrance of an 18-year-old who died in a car crash six years ago.
Smith said other people connected to the earlier incident then showed up at the gathering.
“It just happens some of the people they were involved with happened to be at that celebration, and those individuals took advantage of that opportunity,” Smith said.
Police have not announced any arrests as the investigation approaches the one-week mark.
Eight people were injured in the shooting. Three victims remained hospitalized.
Investigators have also identified two vehicles they believe may be connected to the shooting: a black and a white BMW 530i. Both vehicles are now in police custody, but investigators are still working to identify who was driving them.
Police have asked people who attended the gathering to look through any pictures or videos they took that night to see whether they captured either vehicle or the people around them.
As of Friday, Sanford police said investigators had received eight Crimeline tips.
Crimeline is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.
The new details came as members of the Sanford community returned to the area Friday evening, this time for prayer.
Pastors, community leaders, and residents gathered near the scene of the shooting to pray for the victims and call for an end to violence.
“We ask in the name of Jesus that you touch our hearts, God,” Pastor Irma Taylor said in prayer.
Pastor Irma Taylor with Second Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church helped organize the gathering.
Taylor said she was holding a service at her church when she first learned about the shooting.
Her immediate reaction was simple: “Not again.”
Taylor said that feeling is now motivating her and others to turn their pain into action and prayer.
“Are we going to reach everybody? Absolutely not, but we’re going to try to reach as many people as we can,” Taylor said.
Sanford Mayor Art Woodruff and Smith were among the local leaders who attended Friday’s gathering.
“All of us as a community need to come together,” Smith said.
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