Lake City, FL – A Columbia County woman was shot Monday morning after interrupting an alleged burglary inside her apartment, prompting a large law enforcement response and a neighborhood shelter-in-place alert.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called around 10:43 a.m. Monday to reports of a person shot on SW Michigan Street. When deputies arrived, they found a female victim lying in the yard in front of an apartment complex.
Investigators said the victim was placed in a patrol vehicle and moved from the immediate area to meet EMS. While being transported, she told deputies she had returned home from shopping and entered her apartment, where she allegedly encountered a tall male dressed in dark clothing. According to the victim, the suspect shot her before fleeing the scene.
Deputies immediately established a perimeter around the apartment complex and surrounding streets, including SW Marion Street, SW Ponce De Leon Avenue, SW Michigan Street, and SW Maryland Lane. A shelter-in-place alert was issued through the sheriff’s office and Columbia County Emergency Management systems.
A short time later, Columbia County and Suwannee County SWAT teams made entry into the apartment. Authorities said the suspect had already fled and was not located during the search.
The sheriff’s office is asking residents in the area to review doorbell cameras, home security systems, and dash cameras from Monday morning. Anyone who observed suspicious activity or a person running through yards matching the suspect description is urged to contact CCSO at (386) 719-2005. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386) 754-7099 or crimestoppers.net.
The victim’s condition has not been released. The investigation remains active.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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