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Winter Haven woman shot during SUV theft dies

Polk County Sheriff's Office

One man is still at large after two people tried to steal this Toyota Land Cruiser early this morning.

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TBO.com

Published: April 28, 2009

Updated: 04/28/2009 09:17 pm

N. McCORMICK

A woman shot while she and an accomplice tried to steal a sport utility vehicle in Wahneta Tuesday has died from her injuries, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Nikki McCormick, 21, of Winter Haven was pronounced dead at Lakeland Regional Medical Center at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday. An autopsy will be performed Wednesday, but it appears McCormick died from a single gunshot wound to the head, sheriff's office spokeswoman Carrie Eleazer said.

Deputies continue to search for the man McCormick was with during the attempted vehicle theft and shooting about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Grove owner Ladon "Jamie" Jones III, 39, called the sheriff's office at that hour to report that he had heard a noise on his property at 290 Rifle Range Road and saw a man and a woman driving off in his Toyota Land Cruiser.

Jones told investigators he yelled several times for them to stop, but they drove in his direction, so he fired several shots at the vehicle with a .9 mm handgun.

The vehicle continued to flee, driving through one fence and then hitting a ditch and another fence before stopping.

The man who was driving jumped out and ran toward Rifle Range Road; deputies do not know whether he was injured by the gunfire.

McCormick remained in the car. She has been arrested previously on charges including fraud and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, officials said.

The sheriff's office said it does not have a positive identification for the man.

The Polk County State Attorney's Office will determine whether any charges will be filed against Jones, who has been cooperative with investigators. He lives at 117 Eagle Lake Loop Road, adjacent to the grove property, the sheriff's office said.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

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