Florida detectives link 2 crime scenes with 7 dead on opposite sides of
the state
[February 12, 2026]
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Investigators in Florida say a double
homicide discovered during a well-being check was linked to a shooting
rampage hours later in a gated community on the other side of the state,
which left five more people dead including the suspected shooter. |

In this image taken from video provided by WFTS, law enforcement
officers investigate a scene, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Sarasota,
Fla., which authorities say is connected to another crime scene, in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla. (WFTS via AP) |
|
The suspect had a romantic relationship with one of the Fort
Lauderdale victims, who was connected to the victims in the
second shooting in Sarasota, but Sarasota County Sheriff’s
Office detectives released few other details.
“The suspect’s motivation for targeting the Sarasota victims is
unknown,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Wednesday.
Fort Lauderdale is more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) away
from Sarasota, on the opposite side of Florida's main peninsula.
Fort Lauderdale police officers received a call Tuesday for a
well-being check and found two people dead inside a home,
Detective Kerri Hagerty said in an email Wednesday.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that this is an isolated
incident. Detectives do not believe there is any threat to the
local public,” Hagerty said.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were
directed to a home in a gated community in the city by a 911
call. They found a wounded man in the front yard who died a
short time later. Inside the house, deputies found two men and
two women, all dead, including the suspect.
Sarasota County detectives were contacted by detectives in Fort
Lauderdale who said they believed the cases were linked and
provided information about the suspect's vehicle, which was
found in the Sarasota neighborhood.
Video footage gathered from neighbors and the HOA showed the
suspect's vehicle entering the Sarasota neighborhood followed by
the sound of gunfire a short time later. More than a half hour
later, the man who was found wounded in the front yard is seen
on video driving into the neighborhood, approaching the front
door of the house and then being shot, the sheriff's office
said.
No other people were seen approaching the home until deputies
arrived, according to the sheriff's office.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
|