LAKELAND — A dispute over a stolen dog left a 22-year-old Lakeland man under arrest and facing attempted murder charges after Polk County deputizes say he fired shots at a family that included a teen and a child.
On Wednesday, June 2, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pierre Drahorad, and he now faces multiple charges, including:
- Attempted first degree murder, felony
- 3 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Aggravated assault on a person over 65 years of age
- Discharging a firearm from a vehicle
- Improper use or display of a firearm
- Tampering with evidence
- and Reckless driving
“This was an extremely dangerous situation that very well could have resulted in several deaths,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted.
What Caused This Deadly Shooting Rampage?
Carrie Horstman, public information officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, noted that the suspect may have been targeting someone he suspected of stealing his dog.
“Drahorad told deputies that he pointed the laser from the gun at the male victim while the victim was standing in his own driveway because he believed the victim stole Drahorad’s dog,” Horstman noted in her report. “He denied pointing the firearm, or shooting it.”
The investigation started on June 1. Deputies got a 911 call from a woman who said a man driving an orange Dodge Challenger had just shot one of her family members in the face, then began following her as she fled the scene in her car with an elderly family member, a teen, and a child.
“The victim reported that the driver of the orange car pointed a handgun with a laser at her while also trying to run her off the road,” Horstman noted.
How Did Deputies Locate The Suspect?
Deputies met up with the victim, then sent out a BOLO (be on the lookout) alert and description of the suspect’s vehicle. The victim who got shot was treated at the scene with a non-life-threatening wound to his face. “The injury appeared as if he had been grazed by the projectile,” Horstman reported.
Deputies spotted the suspect’s vehicle, made a traffic stop and identified the driver as Drahorad, who admitted to deputies that he owned a Glock 26 with a laser site, although he denied shooting anyone with it or chasing after the other victims.
“He told deputies he gave the gun to a friend of his that evening,” Horstman noted, adding that went to that friend’s home and retrieved the firearm. Drahorad was positively identified by all of the victims, and his vehicle was towed.
“Clearly this suspect has anger issues, and should not have access to firearms,” Judd noted. “We’re glad the victims were able to get away from him and that our deputies were able to apprehend him so swiftly.”
Drahorad is now in the Polk County Jail on no bond for the attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.
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.
