LAKELAND, Tenn. — A woman is reporting intimidation and harassment after she rented her neighborhood’s clubhouse for a private party where three teens were shot Sunday night, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman cited condemning posts she read in a private Facebook page for the neighborhood, the Oakwood subdivision.
On public Facebook pages for the city, several Lakeland and neighborhood residents have varied between blaming the woman for hosting a party that attracted the shooters vs. saying she’s not responsible for someone else’s violent acts.
The party was her goddaughter’s Sweet 16 party. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday when the honoree’s grandfather, who was one of the chaperones, refused admission to four guys wanting to join the party. They fired shots, injuring three teens and leaving two of them in critical condition. One other teen was injured fleeing the scene.
The victims’ names have not been released, but an online statement by Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker gave an update on their conditions: “The commissioners and I have been concerned about the children and victims after the incident this past weekend. We have reached out and are happy to report that they are all in good spirits, expected to have full recoveries and the last of them are expected to go home this week.”
Bunker has been on record questioning why the party had “security” at the door and has said that gang members from outside of Lakeland did the shooting. An SCSO spokesman said they have no information indicating gang affiliations, and the case remains under active investigation.
Bunker did not return a call requesting further comments.
