8pm Update: According to Police Chief Jay Hopwood of the Haines City Police Department the shooting suspect from an earlier attempted murder is in custody. According to Hopewood the suspect, Yajaira Rivera, 3/26/79, turned herself into police with her attorney. She is currently at the Polk County Jail awaiting bookin. We will update as more information becomes available.
Earlier Release:
Haines City Police Currently Investigating A Shooting At The Walmart Parking Lot! One Woman Airlifted With Gunshot Wound To The Abdomen. Female Suspect Being Sought.
On January 5, 2017 at approximately 1147 hours, the Haines City Police Department responded to 36205 Highway 27 North, in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, in reference to an attempted homicide. The investigation revealed that a known suspect fired at least one shot that struck the victim in the lower abdomen.
The victim and suspect became involved in an argument inside of Wal-Mart while shopping. The victim and the suspect have known each other for a few years. The victim completed her shopping with her two young children, and exited the store. The victim placed her items and children into her vehicle, and was in the process of pushing her cart to the cart return rack. The victims’ children were not injured during the incident and did not observe the incident.
The suspect was parked close to the cart return rack, exited her vehicle, and shot the victim at least once, striking the victim in the lower abdomen. The suspect then fled the scene in a white Chevy Malibu.
The victim was transported to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment for the gunshot wound. The victim is Mandy Nicole Guzman, Lake Hamilton, Fl. The suspect was identified as Yajaira Rivera, 3/26/79 of 1225 Mystery House Road, Davenport, FL. An arrest warrant is being obtained on the suspect for Attempted Homicide. The Haines City Police Department is currently attempting to locate the suspect.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636 ext.2268 or crime stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
