Two men have been arrested in Polk County, Florida, after allegedly driving around firing guns from a pickup truck while two minors were present. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, sparked multiple reports from concerned residents and led to a police operation that ended in their arrest.
At approximately 3:23 a.m., Polk County deputies responded to reports of gunfire from a vehicle in Eagle Lake. Investigations revealed that four individuals had left a home in the Eagle Hammock neighbourhood in a black Ford F-150. Shortly after, a gunshot was fired. The truck then stopped at a boat ramp at Lake McCloud, where several more shots were discharged into the water.
The vehicle continued north of Eagle Lake to a RaceTrac petrol station at US-17 and SR-540, where law enforcement personnel happened to witness reckless driving by the truck’s driver. The officers, a Crime Information Centre Operator and a Crime Analyst with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, observed the driver intentionally squealing the truck’s tyres. They noted the vehicle’s number plate and reported the behaviour. As the pickup left the station, another gunshot was fired from its window.
The truck proceeded to a Circle K petrol station at SR-540 and Spirit Lake, where yet another gunshot was fired. Shortly after, deputies located and intercepted the F-150 at another RaceTrac petrol station on SR-540 and Thornhill Road.
All four individuals in the truck were detained. Two of them, identified as minors, were later released into the custody of their parents and will not face charges. The two adults, however, were identified as 21-year-old Evan Thompson from Bartow and 22-year-old Devon Mailhot from Eagle Lake.
Authorities seized two firearms from the truck: a PSA Dagger 9mm and an S&W Shield 9mm. One of the weapons, the S&W Shield, had been reported stolen in 2023 in Hernando County.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident Location | Polk County, Florida |
| Time of Incident | 3:23 a.m., Sunday |
| Vehicle Involved | Black Ford F-150 |
| Suspects Arrested | Evan Thompson (21), Devon Mailhot (22) |
| Minors Involved | Two (released to parents, not charged) |
| Weapons Seized | PSA Dagger 9mm, S&W Shield 9mm (stolen) |
| Charges | Discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 300 metres of a person |
Thompson and Mailhot were both charged with two counts of unlawfully discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle near other people. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to examine whether further charges may be filed.
