Teen critical following shooting in Lehigh
A teen remains in critical condition at the Trauma Center at Lee Memorial Hospital following a shooting in Lehigh Acres Saturday morning that also led deputies to the discovery of $1.2 million in marijuana plants gowing inside a house where officials say the shooting occurred.
Dravid Diaz, of Miami, was found in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked suffering from a gunshot wound, officials said. He was airlifted to the Trauma Center where is is still undergoing treatment.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a shooting near Briar Lane and Balfour Terrace, a remote area of Lehigh, at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.
Arriving deputies discovered a black, 1999 Ford Expedition on Balfour Terrace, west of Briar Lane, in the middle of the road. Diaz was in the driver’s seat, suffering from a gunshot wound.
A residence at 14370 Briar Lane was later determined to be the location where the shooting took place, officials said. Deputies began a safety check of the home and nearby structures to determine if anyone else was injured. No one else was found, however, an elaborate marijuana grow operation was discovered, officials said.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit were assigned to continue the investigation. At the Briar Lane address, 301 marijuana plants with a street value of more than $1.2 million have been removed, officials said. The equipment and materials used in the hydroponic grow operation, assembled in the barn, were dismantled. Other evidence has been documented and collected.
The shooting victim remains in critical condition. The circumstances which resulted in the shooting are still under investigation. Anyone with information about these felony crimes is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1000 or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS(8477).
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office