BARTOW - A teenage boy is dead following a shooting Sunday in Bartow. The Bartow Police Department has identified the victim as Armando Cortez, 16.
BARTOW - A teenage boy is dead following a shooting Sunday in Bartow.
The Bartow Police Department has identified the victim as Armando Cortez, 16.
According to police, it appears Cortez was attending a birthday party at the Carver Recreational Center at 520 S. Idlewood Ave. When arriving at the party, he was preparing to park his vehicle in the open lot behind the Union Academy school at 1795 E. Walbash Ave. The lot is directly west of the party location and commonly used for parking, police said.
Investigators said that while driving his vehicle into the lot, Cortez was accosted by several unknown Hispanic males and a fight broke out. During the fight, Cortez was shot several times.
The victim was airlifted to Lakeland Medical Center for treatment of his wounds. He died at the hospital.
Bartow police say they do not know the reason for the fight.
According to police, the victim would have been 17 years old on Christmas Day.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bartow Police Department at 863-559-3453 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-8477.