A man accused of shooting a homeowner and grazing a deputy Wednesday during a crime spree in South Georgia was wanted for killing a man a day earlier at a body shop in Tampa, Florida, authorities said.
William Welland Jr., 37, was shot multiple times while exchanging gunfire with deputies following a chase in Lanier County, according to the GBI.
The incident began when police responded to a home invasion on Old Stockton Road in Lakeland about 11:50 a.m. During the home invasion, “the homeowner was shot and an unsuccessful attempt was made to steal his vehicle,” authorities said.
Investigators said Welland arrived at the home in a black Audi that belonged to the man killed Tuesday in Tampa.
In that case, a 29-year-old was found dead in the garage bay of an auto body shop, Tampa police told AJC.com. Investigators said the victim suffered “upper body trauma,” but no additional details have been released.
Welland is accused of taking the man’s car and driving it to South Georgia ahead of Tuesday’s shootings.
“Detectives are en route to Georgia to continue the homicide investigation, which although still active, does not appear to have been a random event,” Tampa police spokesman Eddy Durkin said in a statement.
After the initial home invasion, Welland drove to Crisp School Road, entered another home and stole a minivan, the GBI said.
The officer-involved shooting occurred when deputies spotted Welland and tried to pull him over, authorities said. After leading them on a brief chase, Welland pulled behind a home on Ga. 122 East and attempted to run. Gunfire was exchanged when he got out of the minivan and reportedly fired at police, authorities said.
One of the deputies was grazed by a bullet under her arm, Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton told WALB-TV. It was her first day on the job.
She was treated at South Georgia Medical Center in Lakeland and released, according to the GBI. The homeowner and Welland are being treated at the hospital’s Valdosta campus.
On Friday, the GBI obtained arrest warrants for Welland stemming from the incidents in Georgia. He will face counts of aggravated assault, home invasion theft by taking, burglary, aggravated animal cruelty and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s shooting is asked to contact the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office at 229-482-3545 or the GBI’s Douglas office at 912-389-4103.
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