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Shooting Victim's Son Speaks To Commission

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By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2008

PLANT CITY - Friday, Plant City was shut down by a massive manhunt for a suspected killer.

Monday night, that collective experience and individual pain were recognized at Plant City Commission meeting.

The meeting began with a prayer and comments by Mayor Rick Lott about the "terror that struck our city."

"This type of terror is not supposed to happen to our community; not Plant City," Lott said.

Fransisco Rangel, wanted in the shooting death of 36-year-old Michael James Longoria, was spotted Friday morning by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives driving through downtown Plant City.

When they tried to stop him, he opened fire with high-powered assault rifle, authorities said.

No officers were hit, but Candelario Lagunes, 58, a passenger in a passing car, was shot in the head and died.

A shootout ensued, followed by hours of house-by-house searches for Rangel, causing schools to lock down and the city's Christmas parade to be canceled.

Before the commission on Monday night, the Rev. Carlos J. Rojas, assistant to the pastor at Plant City's St. Clement Catholic Church, spoke of the difficulties the community suffered at the hands of a gunman. "He tested us with spirits that are not of the season."

At the commission meeting were Candelario Lagunes' son Henry, and his wife, Amanda.

Asked to address the commission, Henry Lagunes related how he and his late father had planned to launch a small business, a mobile kitchen.

Assistant City Manager Greg Horwedel will help the family proceed with that venture.

"He's going to help you with that red tape so you can get that permit," Lott told Lagunes.

"Plant City is a good place to live," replied Lagunes, who said many in the community visited the family's home to express sympathy. Visitors included Lott and Police Chief Bill McDaniel.

Lagunes and his father, 58, were in their car Friday morning when the shooting began. Henry Lagunes told his father shots were being fired. Moments later, the back windshield popped and cracked and a bullet hit his father in the head, Henry Lagunes recalled in an interview.

Lagunes turned his car around and started to drive at Rangel, but deputies waved at him to stop, and he realized that crashing into Rangel might do his father even more harm. Candelario Lagunes was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he died.

Monday morning, Henry Lagunes said his father's death finally has sunk in.

He is a religious person, he said, and that allows him to forgive the man investigators say fatally shot his father Friday.

"He was a lost soul," Lagunes said.

That doesn't mean Lagunes wants the attacker back on the streets. The law is the law, Lagunes said, and Rangel should stay behind bars as long as the courts can keep him.

Funeral arrangements are still being worked out for Candelario Lagunes, who leaves behind three children and a wife of 33 years.

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this story. Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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