Two teenagers were found dead near a forest in Marion County, Florida, and another young woman was found seriously injured in the same area but her death was confirmed on Tuesday.
Authorities suspect the cases are connected, local NBC News Wesh 2 reported.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday that a 16-year-old girl died at the hospital
after being shot and left on the side of the road
at 183 Southeast Avenue, local ABC News WCJB reported.
This young woman was found last Thursday night near Forest Lakes Park.
She was shot in the head, she survived a few days but this Tuesday she succumbed to her injuries.
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Days before, two young men were found dead in the Ocala National Forest.
On Friday morning
the body of a 17-year-old
was found near where the 16-year-old was found.
Her body was also dumped on the side of the road and she too was shot.
Then, on Saturday, a car was found partially submerged in the forest pond, in the area of Malauka Loop and Malauka Loop Trace.
Inside,
the lifeless body of another teenager, also 16, was found.
She had been shot.
Authorities believe the cases are related and that they were targeted and not random deaths.
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"The hypothesis is that they are connected in some way, and we are trying to figure out what it is
," Lt. Paul Bloom told Wesh 2.
For his part, Marion County Sheriff Billy Wood told WCJB that they do not believe the suspected person is a serial killer and quelled rumors spread on social media that there was a fourth victim.
Neighbors expressed their dismay at what happened.
“As a mother, all parents should feel the same way I do: completely shocked
,
” one resident told Wesh 2. “I just hope we can figure out what went wrong and help this community so our children feel safe,” she added.
Authorities ask anyone with information about the case to call Detective Ryan Stith at (352) 368-3542. If you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Marion County Crime Stoppers at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-22 in your tip.