Shootings mark violent night in Mount Dora

Four people were shot — one of them fatally — in two unrelated overnight shootings in Mount Dora this weekend.

The first happened about 9:23 p.m. Friday when two people were shot in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart at U.S. Highway 441 and Eudora Road.

One of the victims was struck in the back and the second was hit in the knee. Both were taken by helicopter for treatment at area hospitals, said City of Mount Dora spokeswoman Lisa McDonald.

Mount Dora police do not know how many suspects were involved or where they went after they fled the scene, McDonald said.

The conditions of the shooting victims were unknown as of Friday night.

Just hours later, Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 2000 block of Sheridan Road in the unincorporated portion of Mount Dora for another shooting that was unrelated, Sgt. Jim Vachon said.

About 2:30 a.m., deputies found a 21-year-old Orlando man dead in a car that was reported stolen from the Tampa area.

Nearby, they found another man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for surgery.

Deputies believe the shootings are related to a “large rave party” attended by as many as 1,000 people in the city of Mount Dora that was letting out around that time. The sheriff ’s office said offduty police and deputies were hired for event security.

Information about possible suspects was not available Saturday.

Law enforcement continues to investigate both shootings but do not believe the two have any connection.