7 Dead in Florida Shooting Spree Across Two Cities

Seven people are dead following a cross-state shooting spree in Florida that began in Fort Lauderdale and ended hours later inside a gated Sarasota community, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect fatally shot two people in Fort Lauderdale, including a former romantic partner, before driving across the state and killing four additional victims at a home in Sarasota. The suspect later died by suicide inside the residence, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.

“There are no survivors” at the Sarasota scene, officials said during a briefing, adding that the investigation remains active as detectives work to determine a motive.

Timeline of the Shootings

The violence began earlier in the day in Fort Lauderdale, where police were investigating a double homicide. Authorities later determined the suspect in that case traveled northbound across the state before arriving in Sarasota County.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators captured the suspect’s vehicle traveling through Punta Gorda prior to the second attack. Video later showed the vehicle entering the Amberlea neighborhood in Sarasota at approximately 11:01 a.m.

Just over an hour later, at around 12:24 p.m., Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call reporting that an adult male had been shot in the front yard of a home on Fallcrest Circle inside the gated community.

When deputies arrived, neighbors were performing CPR on the victim. He was transported by Sarasota County Fire Department personnel and later pronounced dead.

Fearing additional victims inside the home, deputies secured the scene before entering the residence. Inside, they discovered four more deceased adults: two women and two men, including the suspected gunman.

A neighbor’s Ring camera captured the sound of gunfire shortly after the suspect entered the home, according to investigators.

Connection Between the Scenes

While processing the Sarasota scene, detectives were contacted by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department regarding the earlier double homicide.

Authorities confirmed that one of the Fort Lauderdale victims had previously been in a romantic relationship with the suspect. Investigators also said the Sarasota victims had connections to that individual, though officials have not disclosed the nature of those relationships.

Deputies said they do not yet know why the Sarasota residents were targeted.

“We are still working to understand the motive,” officials said, adding that next-of-kin notifications are ongoing and the victims’ names have not yet been released.

What Authorities Know So Far

According to investigators, the suspect entered the Sarasota gated community shortly after 11 a.m. and went directly to the home where the killings occurred. The shooting unfolded within minutes.

Law enforcement has confirmed that the suspect was found dead inside the residence from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office described the Sarasota location as the second crime scene tied to the suspect. Officials said detectives are coordinating with Fort Lauderdale authorities as part of the ongoing cross-jurisdiction investigation.

Authorities have not yet released details about how the suspect obtained the weapon used in the shootings or whether there were prior warning signs.

Community in Shock

The Amberlea neighborhood, where the Sarasota shooting occurred, is a gated residential community. Neighbors described the scene as chaotic as first responders arrived and law enforcement secured the area.

The rapid sequence of events — beginning with a double homicide in South Florida and ending in a mass shooting on the Gulf Coast — has left communities in both cities grappling with the scale of the violence.

Investigators emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Ongoing Investigation

Detectives are continuing to examine digital evidence, surveillance footage and potential communications between the suspect and victims.

Officials said determining motive is a key focus of the investigation, particularly in understanding why the Sarasota victims were targeted beyond their connection to the suspect’s former partner.

Both law enforcement agencies are expected to provide additional updates as the investigation progresses.

For now, authorities have confirmed that seven people — six victims and the suspect — are dead following one of the deadliest cross-state shooting sprees in recent Florida history.

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