- Lake City police found an adult Black man fatally shot on NW Albright Place at 10:52 a.m. Tuesday and have launched a homicide investigation.
- Detectives from multiple agencies are investigating the scene, and officials request public tips via police or Crime Stoppers hotlines.
UPDATE: (3:52 p.m. ) Law enforcement apprehended the suspect who allegedly shot and killed a man Tuesday morning in Lake City near NW Albright Place.
According to a Lake City Police Department (LCPD) release, LCPD detectives identified the suspect in the fatal shooting as Willie Kyedell Thomas, 25, of Homestead.
Law enforcement responded to Thomas’s location and, after the suspect refused to comply with commands, he was apprehended after a K-9 was deployed.
Thomas was arrested and transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Following his release from the hospital, he will be interviewed by detectives and booked in the Columbia County Detention Facility. Charges are pending.
“I want to thank the men and women of the Lake City Police Department for their outstanding work and extend my sincere appreciation to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Corrections K-9 Unit, the Office of the State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit, and all of our law enforcement partners who assisted throughout this investigation,” said Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler in the press release. “I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the citizens of Lake City and Columbia County.
“The information provided by members of our community played a significant role in helping investigators quickly develop leads and locate the suspect. Your willingness to remain vigilant, report what you saw, and work alongside law enforcement made a real difference. This case is a powerful reminder that when the community and law enforcement stand together, we are stronger, safer, and better able to bring those responsible for violent crimes to justice.”
Original story:
The Lake City Police Department (LCPD) is investigating a homicide after officers discovered a man fatally shot on Tuesday morning.
According to an LCPD release, at approximately 10:52 a.m., officers responded to the area of NW Albright Place following a report of a person who had been shot. Upon arrival, officers found an adult Black man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
LCPD detectives assumed the investigation with assistance from detectives from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, crime scene personnel from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and representatives from the Office of the State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit.
The scene remains active as investigators continue processing evidence and conducting interviews. Residents should expect an increased law enforcement presence in the area while the investigation continues.
The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact LCPD Detective Amanda Pepin at 386-752-4343. Anonymous tips may be submitted through the LCPD TIPS line at 386-719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at 386-754-7099.