LAKELAND, Fla. — Police arrested a man accused of shooting at two police detectives Tuesday in Lakeland.
Arthur Williams, 18, is facing two counts of attempted murder while Abdul Littles, 22, was arrested on separate charges by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor Little will likely face more charges for his involvement in the shooting, according to the police chief.
Taylor said the detectives were surveilling an area on Atlantic Avenue between Vermont and Illinois avenues. Williams, "a known suspect" with prior juvenile convictions, approached the detectives' car and asked them if they "had some gas," which Taylor said is common slang for marijuana.
Williams was with Littles when he approached the detectives, according to Taylor.
"Realizing that their surveillance was compromised, the detectives took a photograph of Williams and Little... and then left the area," Taylor said.
Then, around 5:47 p.m., the detectives reportedly ran into Williams and Littles again. Once the detectives passed them, Williams drew a gun and started shooting directly at their car, hitting it five times, Taylor said.
"Williams clearly knew the people he was shooting at were police officers," Taylor said.
Williams and Little then fled the detectives in a red Nissan Maxima.
"Miraculously, neither detective was struck during this hail of gunfire," Taylor said.
Around 1:25 a.m. the next morning, they were located at a home in Tampa.
"The two had called for Ubers to come pick them up in an attempt to distance themselves from the residence and the vehicle," Taylor said. "A traffic stop was performed and the two were taken into custody without incident."
Williams and Littles have been booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.