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NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) — Police have arrested a man who they believe was involved in a shooting at a Walmart parking lot in Port Charlotte earlier this month, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 13, Charlotte County deputies responded to reports of several shots being fired at a Walmart on Murdock Circle.
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After an initial investigation, deputies took two people into custody for their alleged roles in the shooting, and issued a warrant for the man who they say was responsible for firing the shots.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office reported that around 1 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the area of Camilla Lane after receiving a tip involving the wanted suspect.
At the scene, deputies said they found Anthony Mojica, 20, driving a white Nisszan Altima.
One of the deputies said that he caught up to the vehicle and turned on his emergency lights, which prompted Mojica to swerve into the opposite lane and turn off his headlights before speeding off.
The deputy continued his pursuit with assistance from the North Port Police Department.
During the pursuit, the Nissan driven by Mojica reached speeds of over 120 miles per hour while driving on the wrong side of the road heading north on Interstate 75.
According to deputies, around mile marker 180, the front tire of the Nissan began to deteriorate, which allowed NPPD to successfully deploy stop sticks and slow the vehicle down to 65 miles per hour.
Law enforcement then enacted a PIT maneuver that stopped the vehicle near mile marker 182
“I warned him that he could not hide from us. If you commit a crime in Charlotte County we will find you. We have recently trained members and equipped our vehicles with the ability to PIT. We are tired of criminals fleeing, so this is a warning to all, if you commit a crime and run in Charlotte County, given the opportunity, we will put you in the ditch!” Sheriff Bill Prummell said.
“I want our community to continue to feel safe and they can rest easy knowing that this violent criminal is no longer on the street.”
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Charlotte County deputies and NNPD officers ordered the occupants of the Nissan to exit the vehicle in which Mojica, accompanied by a juvenile female passenger, complied.
After searching the vehicle, deputies located a handgun and a black bag with suspected narcotics and additional ammunition inside.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mojica and he was taken and booked into the Sarasota County Jail where he is being held on charges relating to the pursuit.
He will also face charges in the Charlotte County shooting.
