| HAINES CITY — One person was left dead and two others got injured after a shooting in a bar near Haines City on Sunday, and police have charged the suspected shooter with first degree Felony Murder. Joshua Badillo, 31, of Haines City, was arrested and charged with first degree murder, attempted 1st degree murder and tampering with evidence. All three charges are felonies. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said this horrific incident started with an argument, and due to the suspect’s irresponsible actions, quickly escalated. “From everything we’re seeing, the suspect instigated everything, pestering the group repeatedly,” Judd said. “He shot one man, then got into a gunfight with another … all, basically over nothing. It’s absolutely senseless.” |
| What Happened In That Bar? |
| Brian Bruchey, public information officer for Polk County Sheriff’s Office, noted in his report that an argument broke out at the Shady Cove Bar & Grill on Sunday afternoon, May 1. It quickly turned deadly. Gunshots were exchanged, leaving one man dead and another injured. Bruchey noted that Badillo was also injured, and quickly got captured by deputies at his home a short time later. Deputies responded to the scene around 5:12 pm. after a call to the sheriff’s office that someone had been shot in the bar’s parking lot. “According to witnesses, Badillo, who was a frequent visitor at Shady Cove, got into a verbal disturbance with members of a motorcycle group,” Bruchey noted in his report. “The disturbance calmed down and the group went to an outside bar area, and then Badillo went out and began harassing them some more, and was asked to leave.” According to the report by deputies, as Badillo walked to his truck, “words were still being exchanged,” Bruchey noted, which prompted Badillo to turn around, walk past several people, and shoot a 32-year old man. That victim, from Lakeland, was taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds to his hand and groin, and he is listed in stable condition. A 54-year old man immediately ran outside from the bar and shot at Badillo, who then ran to his truck. “The two men continued shooting at each other as Badillo drove away,” Bruchey noted. The 54-year old man, from Plant City, was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest, but passed away after he arrived there. After Badillo was captured, he was taken to a local hospital for his injuries, and currently remains hospitalized in stable condition. To learn more about this case, watch Sheriff Judd briefs the media on Facebook live. |
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright, and author of the book When I Woke Up, You Were All Dead. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
