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10 injured, 2 critically, after drive-by shooting in central Florida: police

Click to play video: 'Lakeland shooting: Police say total number of victims now at 11, search for suspects ongoing'
Lakeland shooting: Police say total number of victims now at 11, search for suspects ongoing
WATCH: During a press briefing Tuesday morning, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor announced an 11th victim had sustained minor injuries following Monday's drive-by shooting in Lakeland Florida. – Jan 31, 2023

Ten people were injured Monday afternoon during a drive-by shooting in a central Florida neighborhood, police said.

Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said during a news conference that two of the victims were critically injured, while the wounds of the other eight victims weren’t considered life-threatening. The victims were males between the ages of 20 and 35.

Lakeland is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Tampa.

“I’ve been here 34 years, and I can tell you I have never worked an event where this many people were shot at one time, ever,” Taylor said.

A crowd of people were gathered along a residential street when a dark-blue sedan rolled by, slowing but not stopping, police said. Four people fired shots from the sedan’s windows before the car sped away, Taylor said.

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Click to play video: 'Drive-by shooting in Lakeland, Fla., leaves 10 injured, 2 critically'
Drive-by shooting in Lakeland, Fla., leaves 10 injured, 2 critically

Officers were searching for the vehicle and the shooters Monday night, officials said.

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Taylor said investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack.

Police said marijuana was found at the scene of the shooting, and investigators believe drug sales were taking place.

Taylor described the neighborhood as “challenged” and said the police had focused a lot of attention on the area in recent years.

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