Lakeland police arrest Tampa man in fatal Providence Reserve shooting
LAKELAND — The Lakeland Police Department has arrested a Tampa man in connection with a double shooting at a North Lakeland apartment complex that killed one man and critically injured another.
Kenneth Bowers, 48, of Tampa faces felony charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder in the second degree and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police said Bowers confessed to the shooting after being given his Miranda rights.
"It is my hope that this arrest brings some amount of relief for the loved ones of the victims. Their lives are forever changed, and we will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served," Chief Sam Taylor said in a news release.
On Dec. 26, Lakeland police responded to a call from Providence Reserve Apartments in Lakeland at 5:26 p.m. The officers found two men with gunshot wounds near the complex's outdoor courtyard and began administering first aid. Both men were transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital with critical injuries.
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Lakeland police found out there was an argument between two juveniles that evolved into a physical fight between numerous people. At some point, Bowers entered the apartment complex's courtyard with an firearm and shot two men, one 38 years old and the other 25, police said. Bowers pointed his gun at two other people before he left the scene in a vehicle.
Lakeland police have not provided any reason or rationale as to why Bowers was at the Lakeland apartment complex at the time of the shooting.
The 38-year-old man died of his wounds. The 25-year-old male remains hospitalized as of Monday night with no specific details on his medical condition, according to LPD spokesperson Robin Tillett. The victims' names have been withheld under Marsy's Law.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tampa man arrested in for fatal shooting at N. Lakeland apartment
