In South Florida, two shootings left a toll of seven people dead, including the suspected assailant, authorities from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported. The incidents, which occurred in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale, are being investigated as possibly related cases.
According to official reports, the first incident occurred on Tuesday in a house in Fort Lauderdale, north of Miami, where the bodies of a 46-year-old woman and an 18-year-old young man were found. Hours later, in the Amberlea neighborhood of Sarasota, a second armed attack occurred, leaving five people dead.
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What happened in the Sarasota shooting?
The Sheriff’s Office reported that the officers responded at noon to a report of gunfire in a residential area of Sarasota. At the scene, they found a man with gunshot wounds, who died despite first aid attempts.
Upon entering the residence, the officers found two women and two adult men dead, including the alleged attacker, identified as Russell Kot, 51, originally from Fort Lauderdale, who is believed to have died from a self-inflicted wound.
Possible connection between the attacks in Florida
The authorities indicated that the suspect previously had a romantic relationship with one of the victims in Fort Lauderdale, who in turn had a connection with the deceased individuals in Sarasota. However, the motive for the armed attack in Florida remains under investigation.
Detectives from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department notified Sarasota authorities about the possible connection between both cases after the discovery of the double homicide in that city.
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Authorities rule out active threat
Both the Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale police stated that the incidents are considered isolated and that there is no active threat to the community, as the alleged perpetrator died at the scene.
Investigations continue to clarify the exact chronology of events and accurately determine the motive behind the attack.
