12-year-old shot, killed on couch Thursday night.
Authorities spent all day Friday trying to solve the shooting of a child Thursday night.
A 12-year-old girl was hit by gunfire while on the couch in a NW Long Street residence around 9 p.m. Thursday. Despite Lake City Police Department officers and EMS performing first aid, the child died from her injuries.
“The Columbia County Schools family is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of one of our cherished students,” Superintendent of Columbia County Schools Lex Superintendent said in a statement released by the district Friday afternoon. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to her grieving family during this incredibly difficult time. We stand together as a community, united in our sorrow and offering our unwavering support.”
Greg Burnsed, an LCPD spokesman, said Friday afternoon that nearly 30 law enforcement officers were working on the case.
“We’re canvassing the neighborhood, knocking on doors, checking for anybody that had cameras, getting any information we can,” Burnsed said about the shooting, which took place in the 200 block of NW Long Street, just to the west of NW Main Boulevard.
The community has been helpful, Burnsed added.
“We’re not getting any pushback,” he said. “Those with information are giving it to us. Now, we’re just trying to track down those leads.
“It’s a shame it took a child getting killed for that to happen.”
While investigators are chasing down leads and gathering information, Burnsed said they still aren’t sure of exactly what took place Friday night, whether the shooting was a drive-by or not, or what caused the incident.
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said additional security was set to be on hand for Columbia High’s football game Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
“We’re not going to chance that they wouldn’t try something there,” Hunter said Friday afternoon. “We will take every precaution to make sure everybody is safe at the game.”
The crime scene was secured by officers with assistance of deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The scene was processed by Crime Scene Investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Investigators from the Lake City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division along with agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Investigators from the State Attorney’s Office began speaking with the victim’s family and possible witnesses.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Victim’s Advocate responded to assist the family.
Hunter added his deputies were sharing any information they gathered with LCPD.
Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the LCPD at 386-752-4343 and speak with Investigator Sapp.